Cinnabar or Vermilion

Ingredients

mercuric sulphide, mercury, sulphur, gum Arabic

Preparation Steps

Original Recipe Text

Natural cinnabar (Shanjarf) was obtained by grinding the mineral, washing it with water to remove dust, and adding gum Arabic (p. 87). Synthetic vermilion was produced by grinding and cooking mercury and sulphur for several hours (p. 87).

Evidence

"In in this project, cinnabar was identified in all the Shāhnāma manuscripts analysed, and from this aspect, cinnabar is considered as the most prised red pigment, used by Persian painters to paint robes, shield and barding, flowers, architectural components, clothing, and background details."

Remarks

Cinnabar was the most prized red pigment. Without polarized light microscopy, it is impossible to distinguish between the natural mineral and synthetic vermilion; thus both are referred to as cinnabar in this study (p. 87-88).