Current Science

Open Access Open Access  Restricted Access Subscription Access

Pigment Analysis of Palm Leaf Manuscripts of India


Affiliations
1 National Museum Institute, Department of Conservation, Janpath, New Delhi 110 011, India
2 Institute of Conservation, University of Applied Arts Vienna, Australia
3 Department of Culture, Government of Kerala, Thiruvananthapuram 695 033, India
 

The Primary Aim Of This Study Is To Scientifically Examine Major Pigments And Binders Used In Indian Palm Leaf Manuscripts. The Colours In Four Painted Palm Leaf Manuscripts (18th–19th Century Ce) Were Observed Using A Digital Microscope And Sem-edx. Analytical Studies Showed That The Colours Were Prepared Using Traditional Indian Techniques By Mixing Primary Pigments Like Black, Red, White, Yellow, Blue And Green With Locally Available Gum Or Adhesive. The Prominent Appearance Of Black Or Brown Stains, Discolouration And Insect Activity Were The Major Causes For Making The Leaves Brittle And Unstable. The Identification Of Pigments Also Provided Rich Source Of Information About The Composition And Development Of Painting Traditions On Palm Leaf In India`s Southern And Eastern Parts. Laboratory Studies Also Revealed The Use Of Mineral As Colourant For Indian Palm Leaf Illustrations.

Keywords

Binders, Palm Leaf Manuscripts, Painting Traditions, Pigments.
User
Notifications
Font Size

  • Kesavan, B. S., The Book in India: A Compilation, National Book Trust, New Delhi, 1985.

  • Dharmalingam, U. K., Black and White in Indian Typography, Association Typographique Internationale, Hongkong, Hongkong, 2012, pp. 1–11.

  • Naik, B. S., Typography of Devanagari – Volume 1, Directorate of Languages, Mumbai, 1971.

  • Freemen, R., Turning over old leaves: palm leaves used in South Asian manuscripts. The Book and Paper Group Annual, Amerian Institute of Conservation, Minneapolis, Minnesota, 2005, pp. 99– 102.

  • Agarwal, O. P., Conservation of Manuscripts and Paintings of South-East Asia, Butterworth, London, UK, 1984.

  • Agus, N. A., Mydin, M. O. and Ulang, N. H., Biomimcry of palm tree leaves form and pattern on building form. EDP Sciences, Web of Conferences 3, 01024, 2014, 1–6.

  • Akca, D. and Gruen, A., Re-sequencing a historical palm leaf manuscript with boundary-based shape descriptors. In International Archives of the Photogrammetry, Remote Sensing and Spatial Information Sciences, 19th CIPA International Symposium, Antalya, Turkey, 2003, vol. XXXIV, part 5/C15, pp. 55–60.

  • Das, J. P., Chitra Pothi: Illustrated Palm Leaf Manuscripts from Orissa, Niyogi Books, New Delhi, 2007.

  • Kumar, D. U., Sreekumar, G. V. and Athvankar, U. A., Traditional writing system in southern India – palm leaf manuscripts. Design Thoughts, 2009, pp. 2–7.

  • Patnaik, D. P., Palm-Leaf Etchigs of Orissa, Abhinav Publications, New Delhi, 1989.

  • Sahoo, J., A selective review of scholarly communications on palm leaf manuscripts. Libr. Philos. Pract. (e-journal), 2016, 1397.

  • Dyke, Y. V., Sacred leaves: the conservation and exhibition of early Buddhist manuscripts on palm leaves. The Book and Paper Group Annual, American Institute of Conservation, Washington DC, USA, 2009, vol. 28, pp. 83–97.

  • Guy, J., Palm Leaf and Paper: Illustrated Manuscripts of India and South-east Asia, National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne, Australia, 1982.

  • Mactaggart, P. and Mactagggart, A., A Pigment Microscopist’s Notebook, Mactaggart, Chard, UK, 1985.

  • Spring, M. and Grout, R., The blackening of vermillion: analytical study of the process in paintings. Natl. Gallery Tech. Bull., 2004, 23, 50–61.

  • Frison, G. and Brun, G., Lapis lazuli, lazurite, ultramarine ‘blue’, and the colour term ‘azure’ up to the 13th century. J. Int. Colour Assoc., 2016, 16, 41–55.


Abstract Views: 487

PDF Views: 121




  • Pigment Analysis of Palm Leaf Manuscripts of India

Abstract Views: 487  |  PDF Views: 121

Authors

Deepakshi Sharma
National Museum Institute, Department of Conservation, Janpath, New Delhi 110 011, India
Manager Singh
National Museum Institute, Department of Conservation, Janpath, New Delhi 110 011, India
Gabriela Krist
Institute of Conservation, University of Applied Arts Vienna, Australia
M. Velayudhan Nair
Department of Culture, Government of Kerala, Thiruvananthapuram 695 033, India

Abstract


The Primary Aim Of This Study Is To Scientifically Examine Major Pigments And Binders Used In Indian Palm Leaf Manuscripts. The Colours In Four Painted Palm Leaf Manuscripts (18th–19th Century Ce) Were Observed Using A Digital Microscope And Sem-edx. Analytical Studies Showed That The Colours Were Prepared Using Traditional Indian Techniques By Mixing Primary Pigments Like Black, Red, White, Yellow, Blue And Green With Locally Available Gum Or Adhesive. The Prominent Appearance Of Black Or Brown Stains, Discolouration And Insect Activity Were The Major Causes For Making The Leaves Brittle And Unstable. The Identification Of Pigments Also Provided Rich Source Of Information About The Composition And Development Of Painting Traditions On Palm Leaf In India`s Southern And Eastern Parts. Laboratory Studies Also Revealed The Use Of Mineral As Colourant For Indian Palm Leaf Illustrations.

Keywords


Binders, Palm Leaf Manuscripts, Painting Traditions, Pigments.

References





DOI: https://doi.org/10.18520/cs%2Fv118%2Fi2%2F285-292