Egyptian gold

Ingredients

Egyptian gold leaves, bee honey, water, gum arabic

Preparation Steps

Original Recipe Text

Take a blue Chinese bowl, smooth and fine. Throw ten leaves of high-quality Egyptian gold into it. Pour half a dirham of bee honey onto the leaves and gradually manipulate them into a single mass/leaf until it 'melts' (dissolves into the honey). Wash the honey away with water, allowing the gold to sink to the bottom. Filter the gold from the water and add a ḫarrūba (dry measure) of gum arabic moistened with water. Use the resulting mixture to write (p. 174). After writing, let it dry for one hour (p. 175).

Evidence

"throw ten leaves of the finest quality Egyptian gold into it; pour half a dirham of bee honey onto this, gradually make everything into a single leaf, until it melts; then wash the sweetness of the honey from it with water, leave it to sink to the bottom, filter it from the water, pour a ḫarrūba [dry measure] of gum arabic moistened with water onto it and write with it."

Remarks

The process described as 'melting' (ḥall) refers to the physical dispersion of the gold leaf in honey to create a pigment. A Chinese bowl is specified to ensure a smooth surface (p. 174). The text indicates that the quality and appearance of the color will be revealed through the subsequent burnishing step (p. 175).