saffron

Ingredients

dried stigma of Crocus sativus L., crocetin, rosewater

Preparation Steps

Original Recipe Text

The ink is formulated using saffron produced from the dried stigma of Crocus sativus L. (p. 114). The stigmas, typically 2-3 cm in length and weighing approximately 2mg each, contain carotenoid pigments. The color characteristic is specifically attributed to crocetin, which exists 94% in glycoside form and 6% as free crocetin (p. 114). Figure 1 caption explicitly mentions the use of rosewater alongside saffron for the calligraphy of the Qur'anic verses (p. 115).

Evidence

"The script contains prayers and small verses from the holy Qur’an written in naskh style with saffron, white, black, green, gold and red colors; Date of Calligraphy:1194AH/1780, 1230AH/1815, 1252AH/1836 (12th and 13th centuries A. H.), figure 1."

Remarks

This entry pertains to the Moragha (scrapbook) preserved in the Golestan Palace Library (Access code: 1443). The manuscript contains pieces of colored cardboards and the calligraphy is executed in the naskh style (p. 114). The author notes that saffron was used for both calligraphy and decoration in this specific work, which features dates ranging from the late 18th to mid-19th century (p. 114).