orpiment (Arabic zarnih asfar)

Ingredients

arsenic sulphide

Evidence

"Examination of the manuscript in Leeds suggests that the yellow is probably orpiment (Arabic zarnih asfar), an arsenic sulphide used elsewhere in the Maghrib and mentioned by Ibn Badis."

Remarks

Used for the illumination of simple geometrical shapes and verse markers (pyramids of three yellow circles) in West African Qur'an manuscripts (p. 63). Yellow orpiment was also used as a yellow dot to mark the hamzat al-qat (p. 62).