Iraqi cinnabar
Iraq
13th Century
Source: Raggetti, L. (2016). Arabic Ink Recipes in Their Historical and Literary Context. Journal of Islamic Manuscripts, 7, 294–338.
Recipe Details
Ingredients
Iraqi cinnabar, fresh water, Syrian safflower
Preparation Steps
The procedure requires grinding Iraqi cinnabar into a fine powder and washing it repeatedly with fresh water until it turns yellow. Syrian safflower is then poured onto it. The water extraction method follows that used for paper inks, though the text specifies that this particular recipe contains neither gum arabic nor vitriol (p. 316).
Original Recipe Text
The procedure requires grinding Iraqi cinnabar into a fine powder and washing it repeatedly with fresh water until it turns yellow. Syrian safflower is then poured onto it. The water extraction method follows that used for paper inks, though the text specifies that this particular recipe contains neither gum arabic nor vitriol (p. 316).
Evidence
"Grind the Iraqi cinnabar into a fine powder, then wash it with fresh water a number of times until it becomes yellow; pour some Syrian safflower on it"
Remarks
This recipe is listed as '7. Way to prepare cinnabar ink' (p. 316). The use of Syrian safflower indicates a regional cross-trade of materials.
Scientific Analysis
Chemical CompositionHgS
Certainty Level
Inferred
Instrumentally Verified
Not Verified
Metadata
Material Type
ink
ColorYellow
RegionIraq
Approx. Year1250
Source Information
AuthorRaggetti, L.
CollectionIraqi cinnabar
Language
N/A
AI Suggestions
Find similar recipes based on ingredients and preparation methods.