clean lac
Egypt
10th Century
Source: Efraim Lev, 'Mediators between Theoretical and Practical Medieval Knowledge', Medical History, 2013, 57(4), 507–515.
Recipe Details
Ingredients
berberry, nard, liquorice, chate melon, bamboo chalk, purslane, rose, saffron, starch, clean lac
Preparation Steps
The recipe for berberry pastilles in T-S Ar.45.40 (recto) right includes: 1. Take berberry and clean nard; 2. Stick of liquorice clean of the black ones, 3. of each a weight of 2 dirhams; 4. and peeled seeds of chate melon; 5. 2 dirhams, and bamboo chalk; 6. and seeds of purslane, of each one dirham and 1/3; 7. and rose crushed 4 dirhams; 8. and saffron; 9. and starch and clean lac (p. 509).
Original Recipe Text
The recipe for berberry pastilles in T-S Ar.45.40 (recto) right includes: 1. Take berberry and clean nard; 2. Stick of liquorice clean of the black ones, 3. of each a weight of 2 dirhams; 4. and peeled seeds of chate melon; 5. 2 dirhams, and bamboo chalk; 6. and seeds of purslane, of each one dirham and 1/3; 7. and rose crushed 4 dirhams; 8. and saffron; 9. and starch and clean lac (p. 509).
Evidence
"10. and starch and clean lac"
Remarks
Lac is a major ingredient in this pharmacopoeic recipe. The text also mentions a separate recipe on the verso specifically for the process of 'cleaning lac' (p. 511). The berberry pastilles recipe is noted for its similarity to medicinal formulas found in contemporary professional medical books like the al-Aqrabadhin al-Saghir by Sabur Ibn Sahl (p. 511).
Scientific Analysis
Analytical Techniques
Transcription
Translation
Certainty Level
Confirmed
Instrumentally Verified
Not Verified
Metadata
Material Type
pigment
RegionEgypt
Approx. Year950
Source Information
AuthorEfraim Lev, 'Mediators between Theoretical and Practical Medieval Knowledge', Medical History, 2013, 57
CollectionT–S Ar.45.40
Language
N/A
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