Cinnabar; Vermilion (shangarf)

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

mercury, sulphur

Preparation Steps

Described in historical Persian texts as red ink or paint (p. 15).

Original Recipe Text

Described in historical Persian texts as red ink or paint (p. 15).

Evidence

"Mercury and sulphur found in some red ornaments are associated with mercury(II) sulphide, known as cinnabar (natural form) or vermilion (synthetic form)"

Remarks

Used for darker red ornaments (p. 15).

Scientific Analysis
Chemical CompositionHgS
Analytical Techniques
Synchrotron-based scanning X-ray fluorescence microscopy (SXFM)
Certainty Level
Probable
Instrumentally Verified
Verified
Metadata
Material Type
pigment
ColorRed
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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    Cinnabar; Vermilion (shangarf) (17th Century) | Islamic Ink Atlas