carbon-based inks, iron-tannate inks, and a combination of the two

Ingredients

carbon, iron-gall, tannins

Preparation Steps

Original Recipe Text

The manuscript inks were often a mix of carbon and iron-tannate. In Or. 25.744, ink characteristics suggest carbon ink, but the presence of iron and sulphur might point to an iron-gall ink; however, these elements could also originate from the red clay and silica sand applied on top (p. 177). For iron-tannate inks, halos were observed around ink lines (p. 178).

Evidence

"The results of the black writing inks analysis show that carbon-based inks were used, as well as iron-tannate inks, and a combination of the two."

Remarks

In many samples, the black ink showed high density and gloss with craquelure in opaque areas (p. 179). Some black inks appear to have transitioned from carbon-based in earlier centuries to iron-tannate or combinations in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The stratification of mediums required testing the ink separately from the particles and paper substrate (p. 161).