Gold and Silver Inks.
Take equal parts of gold leaf (or silver leaf) and honey. Triturate them in a mortar until perfectly fine, add about 30 parts hot water, and triturate. Allow to settle and pour off the water. Triturate again with fresh hot water. Allow to settle and pour off as before. Repeat the washing several times until the honey is all washed out, then dry the powdered gold leaf and mix it with water and gum arabic. It must be shaken occasionally while writing. Very fine bronze may be made into ink by adding water and gum arabic and shaking occasionally while writing. (For other inks see page [20].)