The study was undertaken to explore the widespread use of colourants, raw materials and technology of colour production to illuminate Qur’ān manuscripts in the Qājār period, Iran (1789–1925 C.E.). SEM-EDX and µ-Raman spectroscopy were employed as non-invasive/non-destructive complementary techniques. The SEM-BSE images contribute to distinguishing between organic/inorganic origin of colourants and the EDX to identify gilding composition as well as providing a short-list of potential colourants to be confirmed by µ-Raman spectroscopy as a compound-specific technique. The results show the most identified colourants are mineral-based pigment; these include carbon black, ultramarine, Prussian blue, vermillion, and red lead. Brass, pure gold, and a gold-silver alloy were detected as metallic ink/paint as gilding. We hypothesise the red diacritic in S01 have organic nature with an anthraquinone derivative structure, but we were unable to specifically identify it. We also hypothesise the yellow constituents in S02 might contain saffron and lead-containing compound(s) as a thickening agent and/or chemical drier. Our findings were in agreement with information available in Persian and English bibliographical sources on Iranian painting and illuminated manuscripts of the Qājār period. Further analysis by SR-µFTIR, FORS, SERS and HPLC is required to confirm our assumption and to complete colourant identification.

该研究旨在探索在伊朗 Qājār 时期（公元 1789-1925 年）广泛使用着色剂、原材料和色彩生产技术来照亮古兰经手稿。SEM-EDX 和 µ-拉曼光谱被用作非侵入性/非破坏性的补充技术。SEM-BSE 图像有助于区分着色剂的有机/无机来源和 EDX，以识别镀金成分，并提供潜在着色剂的候选清单，以通过 µ-拉曼光谱作为化合物特定技术进行确认。结果表明，最常见的着色剂是矿物颜料；这些包括炭黑、群青、普鲁士蓝、朱红色和红铅。黄铜、纯金和金银合金被检测为镀金的金属油墨/油漆。我们假设S01中的红色变音符号具有蒽醌衍生物结构的有机性质，但我们无法具体识别它。我们还假设 SO2 中的黄色成分可能含有藏红花和含铅化合物作为增稠剂和/或化学催干剂。我们的发现与有关伊朗绘画和 Qājār 时期彩绘手稿的波斯和英国书目资料中的信息一致。需要通过 SR-µFTIR、FORS、SERS 和 HPLC 进行进一步分析，以确认我们的假设并完成着色剂识别。我们还假设 SO2 中的黄色成分可能含有藏红花和含铅化合物作为增稠剂和/或化学催干剂。我们的发现与有关伊朗绘画和 Qājār 时期彩绘手稿的波斯和英国书目资料中的信息一致。需要通过 SR-µFTIR、FORS、SERS 和 HPLC 进行进一步分析，以确认我们的假设并完成着色剂识别。我们还假设 SO2 中的黄色成分可能含有藏红花和含铅化合物作为增稠剂和/或化学催干剂。我们的发现与有关伊朗绘画和 Qājār 时期彩绘手稿的波斯和英国书目资料中的信息一致。需要通过 SR-µFTIR、FORS、SERS 和 HPLC 进行进一步分析，以确认我们的假设并完成着色剂识别。