INTRODUCTION - BLACK INKS
Traditionally, most calligraphers made their own inks as it was the duty of ones who want to excel in the art of calligraphy, to make their own inks and cut their own reed pens (Qalam). Hence, recipes on making quality inks were passed down by master calligraphers through their treatises and manuscripts. Some inks were used universally while others were specific to Persia.
Most ink recipes were in the form of Persian poetry. Not only poetry was (and is) embedded in Persian culture and everyday language, the rhymes act as mnemonics, aiding in memorizing the recipes, and passing them down through oral history.
Rasm al-khaṭ (Rules of calligraphy), - Majnūn Rafīqī Hiravī (16th C), Tehran University Central Library 3522
These treatises cover topics such as paper, dyes, sizing, pigments, calligraphy and inks.
اگر خواهی که بشناسی سیاهی بگویم با تو تحقیقش کماهی
سیاهی نزد ما نیکوتر آن است که اندر دیده براق و روان است
ولیکن چون سواد دیده باید که در آبش خلل پیدا نیاید
If you want to be an expert in ink, I will tell you what you have to look for
To us, the best ink, is one that looks shiny and is fluent
But one must have enough experience to see that the water is free from impurity
Mīr ‘Alī Hiravī (16th C)
