iron gall ink

Ingredients

vitriol, gall nuts, gum arabic, mangrove bark, lemon juice, iron filings, vinegar

Preparation Steps

Original Recipe Text

Replication of Arabic black inks based on 9th-20th century traditions (p. 11). Recipes include: 1. Al-Qalalũsĩ: Addition of vitriol to gall nut solution followed by gum arabic (p. 9, Fig 7.1). 2. Al-Marrākušĩ: Gall nuts, iron filings, and gum arabic (p. 10, Fig 7.5). 3. Contemporary Kenya: Mangrove bark, lemon juice, and rusty iron filings (p. 10).

Evidence

"Samples written with iron gall inks made with iron filings before (on the left) and after (on the right) ageing: A) recipe from contemporary Kenya, ink made with mangrove bark, lemon juice and rusty iron filings; B) recipe by al-Qalalũsĩ, ink made with bark, vinegar and iron filings; C) recipe by al-Marrākušĩ, ink made with gall nuts, iron filings and gum arabic."

Remarks

The study focuses on the identification and history of materials in Islamic manuscripts, particularly the transition from carbon to iron-gall inks. Various vitriols (iron, copper, and zinc sulphates) were analyzed for their color contributions (p. 10, Fig 7.3).