Phyllosilicates / Mica

Yemen
18th Century
Source: A. Regourd & K. Scheper, Shifting sands of writing inks in Yemen, CmY 7 (Juillet 2018)
Recipe Details

Ingredients

Si, Fe

Preparation Steps

Flat, glittering mica particles were applied to red ink marks on folio 4a. Interestingly, these particles were found on the red ink but not on the black ink of the main text, suggesting an intentional decorative use for specific script elements (p. 182).

Original Recipe Text

Flat, glittering mica particles were applied to red ink marks on folio 4a. Interestingly, these particles were found on the red ink but not on the black ink of the main text, suggesting an intentional decorative use for specific script elements (p. 182).

Evidence

"Flat, glittering particles. Particles only present on red ink, not on the black ink of the main text. Purpose: decoration"

Remarks

While mica in this instance (measure location #5) is described as decorative, other mica particles on the same folio (locations #3 and #4) were likely used for blotting, as they were applied to fresh ink and then transferred, leaving the paper surface with less ink (p. 182).

Scientific Analysis
Analytical Techniques
XRF
Certainty Level
Probable
Instrumentally Verified
Not Verified
Metadata
Material Type
pigment
Colorglittering particles
RegionYemen
Approx. Year1750
Source Information
AuthorA. Regourd & K. Scheper, Shifting sands of writing inks in Yemen, CmY 7
CollectionOr. 2722
Language
N/A
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