gold; dark brown ink

Ingredients

gold, dark brown ink

Preparation Steps

Original Recipe Text

The letters were written in gold and then meticulously outlined in dark brown ink (p. 98). This practice was common in early Qur'anic chrysography to enhance legibility, although on the dark indigo ground of the Blue Qur'an, its utility was limited as the contrast with the blue was already sufficient (p. 98).

Evidence

"here they are outlined in dark brown ink – a practice which is common to the whole of early Qur’anic chrysography"

Remarks

The gold script reflects a lavish use of resources, where gold was used more extensively than in most purple Bibles (p. 96). The combination reflects the elaboration of tools to write in gold on dark blue within the Islamic scribal tradition (p. 98).