plant-based nature

Ingredients

calcium, iron, potassium, lead, thorn-tree bark, wine

Preparation Steps

Original Recipe Text

Theophilus recipe (early 12th century): 'To make ink, cut for yourself wood of the thorn-trees in April or May... allow them to lie in the shade for two, three, or four weeks, until they are somewhat dry. Then have wooden mallets, with which you beat these thorns... until you peel off the bark everywhere, put which immediately into a barrelful of water... allow them so to stand for eight days... put this water into a very clean pan... and boil it... boil down the remaining water unto a third part... cook it until it grows black and begins to thicken; add one third part of pure wine... cook it until you see a sort of skin show itself on the surface; then taking these pots from the fire, place them in the sun until the black ink purifies itself from the red dregs... pouring in the pure ink, suspend them in the sun until all is quite dry; And when dry... temper it with wine over the fire, and, adding a little vitriol, write.' (p. 86-87). Note: Experts believe 'atramentum' in the original Latin may have suggested carbon rather than vitriol (p. 87).

Evidence

"After performing these thorough analyses, this ink has been proven to be of neither the iron gall nor carbon-based types. The quantifiable data obtained from this study suggest an ink of a specific plant-based nature. (p. 85)"

Remarks

The ink of the Vercelli Book showed high calcium levels but lacked sulfur, copper, zinc, manganese, or aluminum, suggesting it is not iron gall (p. 83-84). It disappears under NIR light at 750nm, confirming a plant-based identity (p. 81, 84). It exhibits a homogeneous quality and a dark brown hue that does not fade or cause the acid hydrolysis damage typical of iron gall inks (p. 85, 89). The composition strongly suggests the 'Theophilus type' ink, a tannin-based ink made from thorn-tree bark (Norway spruce species) and wine (p. 86-88).