gold leaf
Syria
16th Century
Source: Martelli, M. (2021). 'Alchemical' Inks in the Syriac Tradition. In Ink and Manuscript Culture. Brill.
Recipe Details
Ingredients
gold leaf, mercury, mastic, gum water
Preparation Steps
Gold is hammered and made thin, then placed in a crucible (but) near fire. Mercury (or mastic) is placed over it. It is then squeezed and crushed until the mercury is destroyed and gold remains as a 'calcified dust'. Water of gum is then added for writing (p. 82, 84).
Original Recipe Text
Gold is hammered and made thin, then placed in a crucible (but) near fire. Mercury (or mastic) is placed over it. It is then squeezed and crushed until the mercury is destroyed and gold remains as a 'calcified dust'. Water of gum is then added for writing (p. 82, 84).
Evidence
"Gold is taken [...], hammered, made really thin, curved [...] and pressed; then it is put in a crucible near to the fire and mercury (? or mastic) is placed over it. (p. 82)"
Remarks
The mercury is added to attract and increase the gold before it is dissolved into an ink (p. 84). The term for 'dust' (gabarah) is possibly associated with Arabic 'ubar' (p. 84). Another interpretation for the ingredients includes rowan leaves (rowan, mountain ash) mixed with gum and white lead for a gold-colored ink (p. 84, note 18).
Scientific Analysis
Chemical CompositionAu, Hg
Analytical Techniques
philological analysis
Certainty Level
Inferred
Instrumentally Verified
Not Verified
Metadata
Material Type
ink
Bindergum water
Paper TypeSyriac alchemical manuscript
ColorGold
RegionSyria
Approx. Year1550
Source Information
AuthorMartelli, M.
CollectionMS British Library, Egerton 709 (marginal recipe)
Language
N/A
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