cochineal

Ingredients

coccid scale insects, Porphyrophora Hamelii

Preparation Steps

Original Recipe Text

Obtained from coccid scale insects such as Porphyrophora Hamelii (Armenian cochineal), a mordant dye from the Coccoidea family (p. 92). The dye stuff is made by drying the adult females and possibly also the third instars of males (p. 93). It is applied either alone in juice or lake form, or as finishing layers (glaze) on other painted areas to make them more transparent and glassy (p. 92).

Evidence

"When used as a red colour, only cochineal was identified in the Shāhnāma manuscripts AKM 4, AKM 269, and RAS 239 which they were applied to create dark red to represent red used to colouring blood, small flowers, and background details."

Remarks

Cochineal is recognizable in FORS by two maximum absorbance peaks at 520-525 nm and 550-565 nm (p. 94). In the FOMF technique, it shows maximum fluorescence peaks at 525 and 620 nm (p. 94). SERS Raman shows a very strong peak at 1294 cm-1 (p. 94).