5th International Color and Coatings Congress (ICCC 2013) December 18-19,

2013 IsfahanIran

Identification of Plant Color in Paper Inscription Written by

Mahmood Ebn Abelqasem Khansari1
Shirin Mostaghaci1,, Mehrnaz Azadi Boyaghchi2, Abbas Abed Esfahani3
1

Student of MA Restoration Faculty, Art University of Isfahan, Isfahan. Iran. mostaghaci.shirin@gmail.com

NO19, , Northern 1 Alley, West 2 AlleyIsargaran Ave, Taleghani Boul.Shahin Shahr, Isfahan
2
Assistant Professor, Faculty of Restoration , Art University of Isfahan, Isfahan. Iran. . mehrnaz_azadi@yahoo.com
3
PhD Candidate of Restoration Faculty, Art University of Isfahan; Faculty member of Islamic Azad University,
Khorasgan Branch, Isfahan. Iran. abedesfahani@gmail.com

Abstract
What in this project has been studied, is a paper inscription to nastaliq calligraphy was written By
Mahmood Ebn Abelqasem Khansari. This inscription dated 1322 AH and it has a cloth support. The paper
inscription, has 21.73cm width and 648.5cm length and is maintained in Isfahan Decorative Arts Museum.
In this Article the yellow color that has been employed in back ground of in this inscription was examined.
Wet chemical and instrumental methods were used to identify the yellow color. It was showed concluded that
the origin of yellow color is a natural dye that it is called Esparak(Weld). This plant as cause of the yellow
color of the back ground studied paper Inscription.
Key words:
Mahmood Ebn Abelqasem Khansari, Paper Inscription, Esparak(weld), Isfahan Decorative Arts Museum

Introduction
In this project, yellow color that used in back ground of this paper inscription was tasted. For identification
of this color, chemical methods was employedy for this porpose effect of K4[Fe(CN)6] [5], KSCN[5], KI[3],
AgNO3[4], KCrO4[3], H2SO4[5], NH3[3], and BaCl2[4] was studed on this color.
These solvents have not any effect on yellow color and it was very stable. Then,it was decided the yellow
color examine by fourier transform infrared spectroscopy(FTIR). There for, the yellow color was extracted
from the back grand of the paper by using with distilled water[2] and it was mixed with KBr.Then it was
tasted by FT-IR. Also same tast was done on extractine some plant that produce yellow color such as
Esparak(Weld) [1]. Then spectra was taken of yellow color from paper inscription was compared with
spectra were taken of the plant.

.This Article is drawn from the final project of MA degree, restoration of historical and cultural objects
titledTechnology, Pathology and conservation and Restoration Plan of Paper Inscription dated to 1322 AH with a
Cloth Support (Belonged to Isfahan Decorative Arts Museum)

5th International Color and Coatings Congress (ICCC 2013) December 18-19,
2013 IsfahanIran

Experimental

Spectra 1. Spectra was taken from Esparak(weld) (Reference:Authors)

Spectra 2. Spectra was taken from yellow color of paperin scription(Reference: Authors)

Spectra 3. Mix of Spectras were taken from yellow color of paper scription and Spectra of Esparak
plant(Reference: Authors)
In uo table:
The above
Spectra
The below
Spectra

yellow color of back ground of scription

yellow color of Esparak(Weld)

5th International Color and Coatings Congress (ICCC 2013) December 18-19,
2013 IsfahanIran

Conclusions
Chemical solvents has not any effect on yellow color, it means that there was no metal ingredients in this
color. There for the origin of yellow color was not mineral. Then the spectra was taken from the
yellow color; with comparision of the spectra that was taken from the plant of Esparak(Weld)
and the spectra was taken of the yellow color of back ground of this inscrioption showed that yellow
color of back ground of this inscription, has been taken from the Esparak. Finaly,this study showed
that the color of back ground of the paper inscription, was created by plant of Esparak(weld).

Acknowledgements
The authors would like to thank teachers and students of Art University of Isfahan for their kind help in the
experiments, and thahanks of Dr Shirin Adib Khansari for her informations.

References
[1]: Amiri, Davoud.2007. Natural dyeing and extraction pigment from Esparak plant. Tehran: Shabahang.
[2]: Sharifi A. Hassani B. Extraction methods and stability of color extracted from barberry pigments.
(2012). International Journal of AgriScience . Vol. 2(4): 320-327
http://www.inacj.com/attachments/section/17/Temp%20April%202012-458%20Akram%20Sharifi%20C
%20E%20C%20P%20(pp%20320-327).pdf. (accessed June 12,2013)
[3]: Odegard Nancy, Carroll Scott and Werner S.Zimmt.2005.Material characterization tests for objects of art
and archaeology. London: Gutenberg press. (accessed June12,2013)
[4]: Santa Monica College. Qualitative Analysis of Anions using Spot Tests.
http://www.smc.edu/AcademicPrograms/PhysicalSciences/Documents/Chemistry_12_Experiments/Qual
%20Analysis%20of%20Anions,%20Spot%20Tests.pdf. (accessed June13,2013)
[5]: Santa Monica College. Qualitative Analysis of Group III Cations.
http://www.smc.edu/AcademicPrograms/PhysicalSciences/Documents/Chemistry_12_Experiments/Group
%20III%20Qual%20Lab.pdf. (accessed June13,2013)