{"id":1054,"date":"2021-04-05T15:09:03","date_gmt":"2021-04-05T13:09:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/danielgreenart.com\/?p=1054"},"modified":"2021-04-05T15:15:57","modified_gmt":"2021-04-05T13:15:57","slug":"how-to-make-ink-using-oak-galls","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/danielgreenart.com\/fr\/how-to-make-ink-using-oak-galls\/","title":{"rendered":"How To Make Ink Using Oak Galls"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

What Is Oak Gall Ink?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"biorhiza-pallida-wasp\"<\/a>
Biorhiza Pallida, or oak gall wasp<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

The use of oak galls to make a black ink dates back to the early Middle Ages, and was in use until the early twentieth century, the ingredients are fairly basic and easily obtained, but what are they exactly? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Oak galls, also known as oak apples, are formed by small “gall wasps”, the adult female of which lays single eggs on developing leaf buds. The secretions of the wasp larvae which feed on it, modify the oak bud into the gall, a small round-shaped encrustation that protects the developing larvae until they metamorphose\u00a0into adults. The wasp then works it way out of the gall leaving a small hole. These galls are rich in tannins, or tannic acid, which is the basis of the production of the ink.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To make a usable ink you will also need a ferrous salt, Iron (II) Sulphate, water and Gum Arabic. There are numerous recipes that have come down to us through the ages, some of which substitute the water for wine or beer, (although this was probably more down to the purity of water available) and you will see the ferrous salt used referred to as copperas or green vitriol. The Iron (II) Sulphate that I used was that found in the garden centre for plants, and it works very well. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Sulphate of iron from the garden centre<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

What You Will Need<\/h2>\n\n\n\n