[Elfsea] Making calligraphy ink

[Estella Flather]

Greetings from Mistress Stella-
There are two primary types of ink used in period. One is to soak oak galls in water, then add iron sulfate (a period dye mordant). The material that precipitates out is the pigment. Gum arabic was used for the binder. The other type of ink uses carbon black and gum arabic. Many calligraphy books have recipes for ink. See The Calligrapher's Handbook by Heather Child, pp.39-44. Chinese stick ink is also period and sets with grinding stones may be purchased at art stores and oriental shops.
    In service, HE Stella
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Valentyn Drake 
  To: 'Barony of Elfsea' 
  Sent: Friday, February 27, 2004 8:11 PM
  Subject: [Elfsea] Making calligraphy ink


  Does anyone have a source, online or offline, for making 16th century calligraphy ink?  A friend of mine is trying to research the process(es) and my knowledge of such things is, well, zilch.

   

  Valentyn



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