Gold (Genuine gold)
Persia
17th Century
Source: Koohkesh, N., Dredge, P., Howard, D., Lewincamp, S., Zekrgoo, S., & Alhagh, L. (2025). Synchrotron X-ray Fluorescence Microscopy for Characterising Pigments in Seventeenth-century Persian Illuminated Manuscripts. Studies in Conservation.
Recipe Details
Ingredients
Gold leaves, glue, honey, water, Hg (Mercury), Cu (Copper), Zn (Zinc)
Preparation Steps
The gold was applied either as gold sheets (leaf) or as a suspension (liquid gold) (p. 5). Historical treatises described preparing gold suspension (Zar-hal) by kneading gold leaves in drops of glue or honey in a bowl with fingers until mixed, then washing with water. Pure gold particles were then collected from the bottom and painted with a brush onto sized paper (p. 6). Another technique mentioned is gold sprinkling (zarafshan) using fine gold powder (p. 10). For gold leaf, substrates might include a mixture of bole (Armenian mud), rock candy, and egg white (p. 7).
Original Recipe Text
The gold was applied either as gold sheets (leaf) or as a suspension (liquid gold) (p. 5). Historical treatises described preparing gold suspension (Zar-hal) by kneading gold leaves in drops of glue or honey in a bowl with fingers until mixed, then washing with water. Pure gold particles were then collected from the bottom and painted with a brush onto sized paper (p. 6). Another technique mentioned is gold sprinkling (zarafshan) using fine gold powder (p. 10). For gold leaf, substrates might include a mixture of bole (Armenian mud), rock candy, and egg white (p. 7).
Evidence
"Detecting gold in all gilded areas of both manuscripts proves the application of genuine gold."
Remarks
The study distinguished between liquid gold and gold leaf by the uniformity of the gold concentration in elemental maps; liquid gold showed brush marks and thinner distribution (p. 8). Trace amounts of mercury suggest gold extraction via amalgamation (p. 6). Some areas showed gold with copper and zinc impurities, indicating the use of a gold-copper alloy or brass for highlighting repairs (p. 5-6). In MUL 17-Book-One, paints were applied directly onto the gold background (p. 9).
Scientific Analysis
Chemical CompositionAu
Analytical Techniques
Microscopy
Synchrotron-based scanning X-ray fluorescence microscopy (SXFM)
Certainty Level
Probable
Instrumentally Verified
Verified
Metadata
Material Type
pigment
BinderCollagen glue
Paper TypeSized
ColorGold
RegionPersia
Approx. Year1650
Source Information
AuthorKoohkesh, N., Dredge, P., Howard, D., Lewincamp, S., Zekrgoo, S., & Alhagh, L.
CollectionThe University of Melbourne Manuscripts Collection (MUL 17, MUL 76)
Language
N/A
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