ULTRAMARINE BLUE (LĀJEVARDI)

The recipe in Majmu’at al-sanaye (1005 A.H. /1596 A.D) refers to the extract of the blue dye from indigo. It is advised to dye paper with extract of it till lapis lazuli shade of colour is optanied most probably in more concentrated indigo dye:

جوهرست رنگ لاجوردی در آب رنگک گل نیله برآرند نیکو آید

The extract of the indigo plant (nileh) produces a beautiful shade of lapis lazuli (lajevardi) blue when mixed with water. It is excellent for dyeing paper.

Experiment:

To begin, take indigo dye powder or concentrated blue indigo dye. Add a small amount of water and stir it to achieve a consistent solution. Gradually add water to achieve a dark indigo hue similar to lapis color. Dip the paper to allow the dye to penetrate. For a darker hue, let the paper stay in the dye bath longer. For a lighter hue, remove the paper from the dye bath as soon as you achieve the desired shade. Then, let the paper dry in the shade. For a more consistent color shade, dip the paper in the dye bath and let it dry vertically.