Identification of pigments on a 16th century Persian manuscript by micro-Raman spectroscopy

Micro-Raman spectroscopy was used in combination with other analytical techniques for the in situ study of a Persian Herati lacquered manuscript dated 1530 AD. The text is calligraphied on sized and polished folios, framed in papers tinted in various shades and sparkled with gold leaf, according to a specific gilding technique. The palette of pigments used for the illumination, the coloured frames and the cover was established. Lead white, amorphous carbon, lapis lazuli, red lead and cinnabar were unambiguously identified. The green bottom layer of the lacquer decoration appeared to be composed of mixed orpiment and lapis lazuli. Another green pigment present in the illumination could not be identified although a Raman spectrum was recorded. In order to determine the composition of the different elements of the cover and regions realised with the Marqash technique, complementary analysis was carried out, using x-ray photoelectron and x-ray fluorescence spectroscopy. The results obtained by these analyses can be put in parallel with the Arabic treatises describing the realization of these manuscripts from Persian workshops. Copyright (C) 2004 John Wiley Sons, Ltd.