gold

Preparation Steps

Original Recipe Text

The gold is applied to depict various religious relics and symbols, such as the hand (p. 121), the foot (p. 121), the sandal (p. 124), the sword of Ali (p. 124), the staff of Moses (p. 124), and the banners of the Prophet (p. 127, 130). It is often used for outlines around script or figures (p. 121, 131).

Evidence

"A hand in gold is shown against a blue background with red floral design. (p. 121)"

Remarks

Gold is extensively used in this Ottoman prayer book (Anʿām-i Sharīf) for both calligraphic elements and figurative illustrations. On page 121, it is used for the outline of names in large script and for the depiction of the Prophet's hand and foot. On page 131, the text notes that 'shapes of cypresses and tombstones are distinguished from the background by a gold outline'. (p. 121, 131)