indigo
Britain
8th Century
Source: Brown, K. L., & Clark, R. J. H. (2004). The Lindisfarne Gospels and two other 8th century Anglo-Saxon/Insular manuscripts: pigment identification by Raman microscopy. Journal of Raman Spectroscopy, 35(1), 4-12.
Recipe Details
Ingredients
Isatis tinctoria, Indigofera tinctoria
Preparation Steps
The pigment is indigo (C16H10N2O2), which can be extracted from the woad plant (Isatis tinctoria) in Northern Europe or the indigo plant (Indigofera tinctoria) in India (p. 7). In the 8th century, it was readily available in England from the woad plant (p. 9).
Original Recipe Text
The pigment is indigo (C16H10N2O2), which can be extracted from the woad plant (Isatis tinctoria) in Northern Europe or the indigo plant (Indigofera tinctoria) in India (p. 7). In the 8th century, it was readily available in England from the woad plant (p. 9).
Evidence
"The blue pigment used on the Lindisfarne Gospels is shown not to be lazurite, as concluded in 1960 by visual examination... but exclusively indigo."
Remarks
Prior to this study, visual examinations had incorrectly identified the blue on the Lindisfarne Gospels as lazurite (lapis lazuli). Raman analysis proved that all blue areas on the selected folios (ff. 93v, 95, 137v, 138v, 139) consist of indigo (pp. 7-8).
Scientific Analysis
Chemical CompositionC16H10N2O2
Analytical Techniques
Raman microscopy
Certainty Level
Confirmed
Instrumentally Verified
Verified
Metadata
Material Type
pigment
ColorBlue
RegionBritain
Approx. Year750
Source Information
AuthorBrown, K. L., & Clark, R. J. H.
CollectionCotton MS Nero D iv (The Lindisfarne Gospels)
Language
N/A
AI Suggestions
Find similar recipes based on ingredients and preparation methods.