arsenic trisulfide (zarnikh)

Ingredients

arsenic trisulfide, alum, wool

Preparation Steps

Original Recipe Text

The paint is applied using a small stick with felt. Afterward, a piece of wool moistened with alum is used to wash the paint lightly (p. 243).

Evidence

"Ibn Badis recognises five main colors, white of white lead (baruq), black (madad), yellow of arsenic trisulfide (zarnikh), color of the heavens over the Nile or blue and red (zinjar) made from red lead (isrinj) or cinnabar (zinjafar)."

Remarks

The five main colors listed are white (white lead), black (madad), yellow (zarnikh), blue (color of the heavens), and red (isrinj or zinjafar) (p. 243).