PERSIAN INK (MORAKKAB)
Persian master calligraphers tried to create an ideal ink which has the stability of carbon ink and the permanency of iron-gall ink (but without its destructive nature). Their solution was an ink made with all the ingredients of both inks in set proportion and measurements. This recipe given in the form of poetry below and is seen in numerous treatises since the 12th century.
همسنگ دوده زاج است هموزن هر دو مازو
صمغ است وزن هر سه وانگه زور بازو
‘The equal of soot is vitriol the equal of both combined is gall
The equal of all three is gum, and so the power of muscle’
Persian-Alum Ink
The destructive nature of green vitriol is mentioned by Sulṭān ‘Alī Mashhadī (15th C) who gives a recipe of another form of Persian ink.
زمه از زاگ بهتراست بسی وین ندانسته جز فقیر کسی
در سیاهی بُوَد ز زاگ ضرر عوض زاگ بسی زمه بهتر
Alum (Zamah) is better than vitriol (Zag), only this humble one acquired this knowledge. Vitriol can damage the ink hence it’s better to use alum instead
Making Persian Ink:
Lampblack is placed in a mortar
Gum Arabic is dissolved in water until a honey-like consistency is reached.
The gum Arabic liquid is added to the mortar slowly while being ground, mixed, and brayed with a pestle.
Gall nuts are broken to pieces and soaked in hot water overnight.
Content is then boiled for 15 minutes and filtered.
Green vitriol is pounded to powder and added to the gallnut extract (tannic acid) and the color change is immediately witnessed.
Iron-gall ink is filtered and added to the carbon ink in drops
The ink is brayed for a minimum of 5 hour.
Lampblack (1 part)
Green Vitriol (1 part)
Persian ink is brayed for 5 hours
Persian ink applied on paper
Gall Nuts (2 parts)
Gum Arabic (4 part)