Bone black or ivory black
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
charred bones
Preparation Steps
Derived from charred bones or ivory, containing more than 80% calcium compounds (p. 13).
Original Recipe Text
Derived from charred bones or ivory, containing more than 80% calcium compounds (p. 13).
Evidence
"the high calcium counts suggest the presence of bone black in the composition."
Remarks
Usually carbon black (soot) is identified in Persian manuscripts, but the top black border line of the sarlawh in MUL 17-Book-One and areas of MUL 17-Book-Two showed high calcium, indicating bone black (p. 13).
Scientific Analysis
Chemical CompositionCalcium phosphate and carbonate
Analytical Techniques
Synchrotron-based scanning X-ray fluorescence microscopy (SXFM)
Certainty Level
Probable
Instrumentally Verified
Verified
Metadata
Material Type
ink
ColorBlack
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)
Language
N/A
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