On Wed, 15 Mar 2006, Kahlara wrote:
In reference roughly to 12th - 14th centuries. I have been eyeing a lovely
piece of magenta wool. My herbal book says this color can be attained using
dandelion - the whole plant with no mordant.
1. are there any historical references for this color? I know that dandelion
flowers produce a yellow dye.
2. no mordant implies that it would not be color fast.
3. are there any historical references to a magenta like color being produced
with some other dye stuff?
Or any suggestions where I might look for more information?
Annette M (the fuschia/magenta/hot pink range is my favorite color for
clothing!)
Your herbal book is perpetuating a fallacy.
We were discussing this on the natural dyes list (or the SCA natural dyes
list, I don't remember which) and the general consensus from a number
of people who've tried it was that there's no way to get magenta from
dandelions.
You can get lovely pinks and reds from brazilwood, from kermes/cochineal,
from madder root if you're careful (if you overcook it, it turns
brown/orange), from orchil, and from lady's bedstraw root. But you can't,
as far as any of the more experienced dyers could tell, get reds from
dandelion root.
OTOH, it apparently can be roasted and used as a coffee substitute.
I've gotten magenta on wool with cochineal, but I'm not sure how fast it
is, or whether it was a modern mordant or not--my sample cards are at
home, of course. I know we got a dark magenta color on white Icelandic
fleece by leaving it in the dyebath for a very long time, but lighter
colors I think were mordanted. I'll look when I get a chance.
Pixel/Margaret
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