Bright red berries punctuate the high moor of Dartmoor in the autumn, their little clusters like polka dots on the tree. The most versatile of our inks, the rowan berry can be transformed into red, green, and dark grey inks. All different, and beautiful in their own right.
Details
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Colour: green - rowan cooked in alum. The ink will be translucent purple when wet. It will not stay this colour.
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Size: one 15mL vial of sustainably foraged ink
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Use with: Small paint brushes; you can also use a dip pen, but it's very light when wet and difficult to see
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Suitable for fountain pens? No.
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Light fast rating? 1-2. The ink should not be left exposed to direct sunshine.
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Ingredients: Rowan berries, Dartmoor rainwater, gum Arabic, preservative
- Rowan berry ink has a limited shelf life. If it gets mouldy, scoop out the mould and keep going!
The Perfect Gift For
- Artists and calligraphers.
- Eco-conscious individuals.
- Nature Lovers and Foragers.
- Writers and Journal Keepers.
- Historians and Vintage Enthusiasts.
- Minimalists.
- Botanists and Gardeners.
Usage Tips
This is a natural product with a limited shelf life. Best used shortly after making. We make our ink with a goodly amount of gum Arabic. If you find it's too thick, you can add a little water. Shake well before use.
How it's made
Rowan berries are harvested by hand from low-hanging branches. We gather only enough for what we need during the autumn harvest; however, the trees are absolutely abundant on the moor. Sometimes there is a purple tinge that remains, even after drying. If you would like, you can modify the ink by adding a little iron water (Fe2Su). This will make a lovely grey.
About the colour
Your vial of ink will include the year it was made, and a sample on the label. The ink usually changes colour as it dries and is exposed to air. It may be darker, or it may lighten. Use the label as your guide for the colour; however, some papers will differ in their acidity, and may not give a perfect match to the label.
This product is part of our Acorn & Mire give-back line. A portion from each sale is donated back to environmental charities supporting hedgerow regeneration and peatland restoration.
