mixture of flax and hemp fibres

Ingredients

flax fibres, hemp fibres, egg-white, alum, calcium carbonate

Preparation Steps

Original Recipe Text

The paper support for manuscripts M1-M4 was made from a mixture of flax and hemp fibers. (p. 1221). Sizing for M1 and M2 was confirmed as egg-white using TLC. (p. 1218). M3 and M4 utilized alum as a sizing additive, which caused M3 to have an acidic pH of 4.4. (p. 1218). Calcium carbonate (CaCO3) was likely used as a filler. (p. 1220).

Evidence

"The results show that lignified wood was not used to make the paper pulp for the manuscripts. The paper was found to be made of flax or a blend of flax and hemp based on microchemical analyses. Sizing as a process enhances the paper’s stability and serves as a protective layer."

Remarks

Oriental paper preparation often involved sizing mixtures prepared as a paste from starch (though starch was NOT detected in these specific samples), fish glue, or finished with egg-white or gum tragacanth applied with a brush. (p. 1217). Paper was polished by stone or glass tools to create a distinctive shine. (p. 1214, 1216).