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Table 2 Summary of results from previous unpublished projects on Islamic manuscripts at the Straus Center for Conservation and Technical Studies—note that a more limited range of colors or paper fibers was sampled in these projects

From: Materials and techniques of Islamic manuscripts

14th century

 1957.193, Bahram Gur Hunts with Azada, Tabriz, 1330–1340, paper–linen, hemp [Alexiou 1989]

 1960.186.1&2, Mu’nis al-ahrar fi daqa ‘iq al-ash’ar, Isfahan, 1341—lead white, azurite, arsenic yellow (probably orpiment), copper green, dark green (probably orpiment + indigo), vermilion, red lead, lead white and red lake, gold [Ali 1984]

 1960.192, Shapur Discovers Mihrak’s Daughter at the Well, Shriaz, 1341, paper–cotton [Alexiou 1989]

 1960.195, Rustam and the Iranian Army Besiege the Fortress of Kafur the Cannibal, Iran, 1341—lead white, azurite, arsenic yellow (probably orpiment), red lead, red lake [Ali 1984]

15th century

 1952.5, Prince Baysunghur (13991433) Slays a Wolf, Herat, c. 1425–1430, paper–linen, hemp [Alexiou 1989]

 1939.225, Tahmina comes to Rustam’s chamber, Herat, c. 1434, paper–linen, hemp [Alexiou 1989]

 1956.23, Qanbar Delivers `Ali’s Letter to Mir Sayyaf, Iran, c. 1477—lead white, arsenic yellow (probably orpiment) [White 1982]

 1972.299, Two Seated Men, Herat, c. 1480–1490, paper-hemp [Alexiou 1989]

 1960.199, Assault on a Castle, Herat, 1475–1500, paper-hemp [Alexiou 1989]

 1965.481, Battle of the clans, Shiraz, 15th century—lead white, arsenic yellow (probably orpiment) [White 1982]

16th century

 1958.79, Manuscript of the Guy u Chawgan, Herat, 1523—lead white, ultramarine, arsenic yellow (probably orpiment) [St Laurent Lockwood 1981]; paper–linen, hemp [Alexiou 1989]

 1964.149, Illustrated Manuscript of a Divan of Hafiz, Tabriz, c. 1530, paper–linen, hemp [Alexiou 1989]

 1958.75, Nomadic Encampment, Tabriz, c. 1540, paper–linen [Alexiou 1989]

 1958.60, Seated Princess with a spray of flowers, Tabriz, c. 1540—lead white, ultramarine, copper green?, arsenic yellow (probably orpiment), vermilion, red lake, red lead, red lead + lead white, carbon black, gold [St Laurent Lockwood 1981, Khoury 1985]

 1922.75, Layla and Majnun at School, Shiraz, c. 1560—lead white, arsenic yellow (probably orpiment) [White 1982]

 1958.62, Horseman and Running Page, Mashhad, c. 1560, paper-hemp [Alexiou 1989]

 1965.482, Joseph Entertained by Zulaykha’s Maids, Shiraz, c. 1580—lead white, arsenic yellow (probably orpiment) [White 1982]

 1936.27, Young Man in a Blue Cloak, Qazvin, c. 1587—lead white, ultramarine, red lead, red lake, red lead + lead white carbon black, carbon black + ultramarine + red lake, gold [Khoury 1985]

 1936.28, Sufis by a Mountain Spring, Isfahan, c. 1590—lead white, arsenic yellow (probably orpiment) [White 1982]

 1961.57, A Man and a Lion in a Rocky Landscape, Qazvin, 16th century, paper–linen, unidentified [Alexiou 1989]

 1960.201, Woman in a Green Robe, Holding a Spray of Flowers, Iran, 16th century—lead white, ultramarine, copper green, arsenic yellow (probably orpiment) [St Laurent Lockwood 1981]; paper–linen, hemp [Alexiou 1989]

 1955.12, Isfayndirs Third Course: He Slays the Dragon, Iran, 16th century—lead white, ultramarine, arsenic yellow (probably orpiment) [St Laurent Lockwood 1981]; paper–linen, hemp [Alexiou 1989]

 1958.69, Three Youths on a Garden Terrace, Bukhara, mid 16th century—lead white, ultramarine, arsenic green (probably orpiment + indigo), copper green, arsenic yellow (probably orpiment), silver [St Laurent Lockwood 1981, White 1982]; paper–linen, hemp [Alexiou 1989]

 1958.74, Two Youths Under a Tree, Bukhara, mid 16th century—lead white, arsenic yellow (probably orpiment) [White 1982]

 1919.135, Scene in a Palace, Iran, late 16th century—lead white, arsenic yellow (probably orpiment) [White 1982]

 1919.136, Battle Scene, Iran, late 16th century—lead white, arsenic yellow (probably orpiment) [White 1982]

17th century

 1966.6, The Return from the Flight into Egypt, Isfahan, 1689—lead white, ultramarine, copper green (likely copper chloride), arsenic yellow (probably orpiment), red lake, red lead, vermilion, red ochre, carbon black (soot), gold [St Laurent Lockwood 1981, Khoury 1985]; paper-hemp [Alexiou 1989]

 1941.294, The Return of Zal, Rustam and Gudarz, Isfahan, 17th century—paper–linen [Alexiou 1989]

18th century

 1958.80, Lovers, Iran, c. 1700, paper–linen [Alexiou 1989]

 Alexiou, Maria “An analysis of paper in Persian royal court and provincial workshop miniatures, 14th-17th C.” Unpublished paper, Center for Conservation and Technical Studies Certificate, Harvard University Art Museums, 1989

 Ali, Zakaria, “A preliminary report on an analysis of 14 colors from three Islamic miniature paintings” Unpublished paper, Center for Conservation and Technical Studies Certificate, Harvard University Art Museums, 1984

 Khoury, Nuha NN, “Technical analysis of pigments in royal Persian miniatures. “Unpublished paper, Center for Conservation and Technical Studies Certificate, Harvard University Art Museums, 1985

 St. Laurent-Lockwood, Beatrice, “Comparative examination of sixteenth century Persian and Indian miniatures: pigment analysis” Unpublished paper, Center for Conservation and Technical Studies Certificate, Harvard University Art Museums, 1981

 White, Susan M., “Technical examination of yellow pigments and adjacent lead-white deterioration as seen on 16th century Persian miniatures” Unpublished paper, Center for Conservation and Technical Studies Certificate, Harvard University Art Museums, 1982

  1. Pigment analysis was undertaken by polarized light microscopy (PLM) and by scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive microanalysis (SEM–EDS) and fiber analysis by PLM. Attribution and titles of the art works are those currently given in the database of the Harvard Art Museums and may differ from those in the reports