mica, sand, glistening particles, sparkling particles, gold dust, kuḥl

Ingredients

mica, sand, gold leaf, crushed glass, marcasite, brass, copper

Preparation Steps

Original Recipe Text

Different types of sand were poured over fresh ink to accelerate drying. Some sands were dyed black, violet, pink, or blue, or gilding was added to special fine sand (p. 145). In one recipe, pestled glass is added during ink making (p. 159).

Evidence

"the shiny effect results from particles (mica and sand, sometimes with a preparation based on red pigment) spread after the writing exercise. (p. 141)"

Remarks

The particles, referred to as rıh or gold sand, served a dual purpose: functional (blotting/drying) and decorative. In Yemen, they are frequently found in the lower text lines, particularly on the left-hand page, suggesting they were used to speed up drying so the scribe could turn the page quickly (p. 148). The presence of kuhl (antimony/lead sulfides) as a sparkling agent is a distinct Yemeni practice noted in Zabid (p. 151).