Gawish, M., El-Hadidi, N., Elnaggar, A., Ebeid, H. (2023). A Mamluk Copy of Fawaed El Mawaad: Investigation and Analytical Approach. test, 4(1), 54-70. doi: 10.21608/arcs.2023.195531.1035
Mona Gawish; Nesrin M. N. El-Hadidi; Abdelrazek Elnaggar; Hassan Ebeid. "A Mamluk Copy of Fawaed El Mawaad: Investigation and Analytical Approach". test, 4, 1, 2023, 54-70. doi: 10.21608/arcs.2023.195531.1035
Gawish, M., El-Hadidi, N., Elnaggar, A., Ebeid, H. (2023). 'A Mamluk Copy of Fawaed El Mawaad: Investigation and Analytical Approach', test, 4(1), pp. 54-70. doi: 10.21608/arcs.2023.195531.1035
Gawish, M., El-Hadidi, N., Elnaggar, A., Ebeid, H. A Mamluk Copy of Fawaed El Mawaad: Investigation and Analytical Approach. test, 2023; 4(1): 54-70. doi: 10.21608/arcs.2023.195531.1035

A Mamluk Copy of Fawaed El Mawaad: Investigation and Analytical Approach

Advanced Research in Conservation Science
Article 4, Volume 4, Issue 1, June 2023, Pages 54-70    PDF (1.21 M)
Document Type: Original Article
DOI: 10.21608/arcs.2023.195531.1035
Authors
Mona Gawish* 1; Nesrin M. N. El-Hadidi2; Abdelrazek Elnaggar3; Hassan Ebeid3
1Conservation Center (organic lab), National Museum of Egyptian Civilization (NMEC), Cairo, Egypt.
2Conservation Department, Faculty of Archaeology, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt
3Archeological Science and Excavation Department, Faculty of Archaeology, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt. / Heritage Science Laboratory Ljubljana (HSLL), Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Technology, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
Abstract
A Mamluk paper manuscript copy entitled Fawaed El Mawaad in the Library of Ain-Shams University was examined, and several analytical techniques were employed to identify the materials used in its making, and to examine the manuscript's anatomy and sewing technique. Portable digital optical microscope, polarizing microscope, scanning electron microscope with EDX (SEM/EDX), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and Raman spectroscopy were among the investigation and analytical techniques employed. Microscopic investigation revealed that hemp fiber, which is shorter than flax fiber, yet looks similar to it, was used to produce paper hemp.It is distinguished by transverse knots, a thick, fibrous cell wall, and a smooth surface. This was supported by EDX results that revealed the presence of calcium, which is a main element in calcium oxalate commonly found in hemp and ramie but not flax. SEM images and FTIR-ATR indicated the use of starch as a sizing material and calcium carbonate as a filler. Raman spectroscopy and X-ray Fluorescence were used to determine the types of black and red ink; mixed ink (carbon and iron-gall), and vermilion (HgS) were identified, respectively. The ink type was further confirmed with technical photography using Infrared Fluorescence (IRF) and Ultraviolet Fluorescence (UVF).

Highlights
  • A Mamluk copy of Fawaed El Mawaad, dated on Friday the fourteenth of Sha’aban in the year eight hundred and ninety-two Hijrah.
  • Polarizing microscope, FTIR-ATR, SEM-EDX, X-ray Fluorescence, Raman Spectroscopy, and technical photography were used for analysis and investigation.
  • The paper leaves of the manuscript were composed of hemp fiber.
  • Starch was used as a sizing material in the manuscript.
  • Mixed ink (carbon, and iron-gall), and vermilion (HgS) were identified, as black ink and red ink, respectively. 
Keywords
Mamluk manuscript; investigation; hemp fiber; filler material; sizing material; black and red inks
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