carbo-tannate-alum ink

Persia
16th Century
Source: Zekrgoo, S. (2014). Traditional Black Persian Inks. Restaurator, Vol. 35, Issue 2, pp. 153-158.
Recipe Details

Ingredients

carbon, tannate, alum

Preparation Steps

The ink is a carbo-tannate mixture made with alum. It is described as a viscous ink that leaves little feathering (p. 153). Unlike carbon ink, it does not dissolve in water; instead, it flakes off and leaves a black precipitate (p. 153).

Original Recipe Text

The ink is a carbo-tannate mixture made with alum. It is described as a viscous ink that leaves little feathering (p. 153). Unlike carbon ink, it does not dissolve in water; instead, it flakes off and leaves a black precipitate (p. 153).

Evidence

"Under both visible light and FCIR, it appears grey to black. It is however extremely grainy when compared to carbon ink."

Remarks

The penetration rate of this ink onto paper is slightly more than carbon ink at 7.5% (p. 153). It is more readily removed through mechanical actions compared to pure carbon ink. Under FCIR, it appears the same as under visible light (p. 154).

Scientific Analysis
Analytical Techniques
cross section analyses
FCIR
visible light
Certainty Level
Confirmed
Instrumentally Verified
Verified
Metadata
Material Type
ink
ColorBlack
RegionPersia
Approx. Year1550
Source Information
AuthorZekrgoo, S.
Collectionreconstructed based on medieval treatises
Language
N/A
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