Natural ultramarine
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
lapis lazuli
Preparation Steps
Prepared by grinding lapis lazuli into powder and washing it in several stages, collecting fine particles from the top layer and removing sediments (p. 14).
Original Recipe Text
Prepared by grinding lapis lazuli into powder and washing it in several stages, collecting fine particles from the top layer and removing sediments (p. 14).
Evidence
"The lack of elements such as cobalt, iron, or copper in both manuscripts suggests ultramarine as the blue pigment."
Remarks
Natural ultramarine often contains accessory minerals like feldspar, which contribute potassium (K) and calcium (Ca) signals in XRF maps (p. 14). MUL 17 showed significantly higher potassium levels than MUL 76, possibly due to extraction methods or processing with alkaline solutions like potash (p. 14).
Scientific Analysis
Chemical CompositionNa6 Ca2 [Al12SixO24]Sn
Analytical Techniques
Synchrotron-based scanning X-ray fluorescence microscopy (SXFM)
Certainty Level
Probable
Instrumentally Verified
Verified
Metadata
Material Type
pigment
ColorBlue
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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