vermilion
Iraq
15th Century
Source: Mounia Chekhab-Abudaya, Amélie Couvrat Desvergnes, and David J. Roxburgh, "Sayyid Yusuf’s 1433 Pilgrimage Scroll (Ziyārātnāma)," Muqarnas 33 (2016): 363-407.
Recipe Details
Ingredients
mercury, sulphur, cinnabar
Preparation Steps
Produced either mechanically by grinding cinnabar (mercury (II) sulfide mineral) or synthetically by combining mercury and molten sulphur before heating, which converts it to red crystalline mercuric sulphide (p. 371).
Original Recipe Text
Produced either mechanically by grinding cinnabar (mercury (II) sulfide mineral) or synthetically by combining mercury and molten sulphur before heating, which converts it to red crystalline mercuric sulphide (p. 371).
Evidence
"In the red pigment, analysis using XRF spectrometry has pinpointed the presence of sulphur and mercury, indicating that vermilion was used (fig. 31)."
Remarks
Valued by artists for its warm, dense hues. The manufacturing process was described as tedious and dangerous due to mercury toxicity (p. 371). On the scroll, the red pigment used in later sections (Karbala) appears of different quality and has blurred over time (p. 373).
Scientific Analysis
Chemical Compositionmercuric sulphide (HgS)
Analytical Techniques
XRF
X-ray fluorescence spectrometry
Certainty Level
Confirmed
Instrumentally Verified
Verified
Metadata
Material Type
pigment
ColorRed
RegionIraq
Approx. Year1450
Source Information
AuthorMounia Chekhab-Abudaya, Amélie Couvrat Desvergnes, and David J. Roxburgh, "Sayyid Yusuf’s 1433 Pilgrimage Scroll
Collectionred painted areas
Language
N/A
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