rather grainy-looking gilt paint
West
Source: Porter, C. (2021). The Use of Metals in Islamic Manuscripts. In: Islamic Art and Culture.
Recipe Details
Ingredients
gold, mercury, copper
Preparation Steps
The most common method for making gold powder throughout the middle ages was to make an amalgam paste of mercury and gold leaf. Recipes describe the use of mercury: ‘pulverise with mercury in a mortar; and employ them in writing’. The paste was then put into a cloth or wash-leather, and the excess mercury was squeezed out by pressure (p. 266).
Original Recipe Text
The most common method for making gold powder throughout the middle ages was to make an amalgam paste of mercury and gold leaf. Recipes describe the use of mercury: ‘pulverise with mercury in a mortar; and employ them in writing’. The paste was then put into a cloth or wash-leather, and the excess mercury was squeezed out by pressure (p. 266).
Evidence
"Déroche records that analysis shows that the ‘rather grainylooking gilt paint’ on a manuscript binding from the Islamic West (BNF arabe 5844) is a mixture of gold with mercury and copper."
Remarks
The presence of mercury suggests the powder was made via an amalgam process, common in regions with mercury mines like the Islamic West (p. 266).
Scientific Analysis
Chemical CompositionAu, Hg, Cu
Analytical Techniques
analysis
Certainty Level
Confirmed
Instrumentally Verified
Verified
Metadata
Material Type
pigment
ColorBrown
RegionWest
Source Information
AuthorPorter, C.
CollectionIslamic West (BNF arabe 5844)
Language
N/A
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