Need some Herculaneum Scrolls type Ink

[douglas seiler]

hi, we are recreating some carbonized papyrus scrolls and need some ink that is similar to the one that was used around AD 79.  we know carbon black is a main component, but the gum arabic and other products are not know to us, exactly.  maybe someone here knows where I can buy some.......   

[PAKMAN]

Hello Douglas and Welcome to FPN!! So glad to have you as a member!! You may not get your answer here in the introductions subforum. Try the Inky Thoughts Sub forum, where more ink experts hang out!  Again Welcome!

[OCArt]

Hello and welcome Douglas. Gum arabic is easily available in larger art supply houses, I found d several sources in a Google Shopping search. As far as a recipe is concerned you might try contacting the restoration department of a museum to see if they can offer information.  

[inkstainedruth]

@ douglas seller -- Have you looked into recipes for making lamp black?  It's basically soot mixed with water and gum arabic (and apparently sometimes also with egg white and honey.

I went to a workshop years ago on how to make it (to get the soot, hold a ceramic plate over a lit match high enough to not put the match out, but low enough to collect the soot), but don't remember much beyond that (it was in the early 1990s).  But I got curious and found a website that might be of help: https://www.textualcriticism.org/post/how-to-make-lampblack-ink

Good luck in your endeavors, and let us know how it turns out.

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[northstar]

Hello and welcome to FPN.

[Wahl]