traditional sized paper

Ingredients

saffron, warm water

Preparation Steps

Original Recipe Text

A method described in various treatises (Māyel Heravi 2018) requires one ‘Mithqāl’ (4.68 g) of saffron to be mixed with one ‘seer’ (75 g) water, creating an approximate proportion of 1:16 by weight (p. 72). Reference samples in this study used one gram of saffron and 16 ml of warm water mixed in a beaker. The mixture was left until the stigmas were bleached (3 days) and the dye was extracted and filtered. Traditional paper samples (2x2 cm) were then immersed in the solution for 24 hours until saturated (p. 73).

Evidence

"In order to prepare the reference samples, one gram of saffron and 16 ml of warm water were mixed in a beaker and then left until the stigmas of saffron were bleached (3 days) and the dye was extracted and then filtered. The paper was dyed according to mentioned treatises that indicates the paper should be placed into the coloured solution until it saturates with the dyes. Therefore, portions of about 2x2 cm of traditional paper were dyed by immersing it into the coloured solution for 24 hours."

Remarks

Saffron was largely cultivated in Khorasan and used across epochs for manuscript decoration, either alone or combined with other dyes like gold and Verdigris. It was valued for its antiseptic properties and scent (p. 72).