logwood, saffron, or indigo

Ingredients

alum (mušabbab), logwood water, saffron water, indigo flower water

Preparation Steps

Original Recipe Text

Soak leaves (paper) in water containing alum (mušabbab). Add logwood water, saffron water, or indigo flower water depending on the desired color. Spread the soaked leaves in the shade on a thick Persian cane until they are dry. Once dry, burnish the leaves before writing on them (p. 177).

Evidence

"take the leaves you want, soak them in water with alum (mušabbab), throw logwood water, or saffron water or indigo flower water, or whatever water you prefer onto this; then spread [the leaves] in the shade on a thick Persian cane until they have dried"

Remarks

The term 'mušabbab' is noted as a technical neologism for a solution of alum in water, used here as a fixative (p. 177, note 22). The use of Persian cane (qaṣaba fārisī) for drying suggests a specialized procedure to avoid sticking or damage to the dyed sheets (p. 177).