HERB - Medieval dyeplants

[Jodi Smith]

This message about searching for medieval dyeplants was forwarded to me,
and has probably lost any thread continuity it ever had.

My personal favorite books:

Medieval Dyes, Jodi Smith (that's me), 1993, Spinning Madly.  (Contains
both recipes and history.  I could tell you all about it, but I don't
know what this list's policy on advertising is.  Write to me if you are
interested.)

The Art of Dyeing in the History of Mankind, Franco Brunello, 1968 in
Italy; translated by Bernard Hickery and reprinted by Phoenix Dye Works,
Cleveland, 1973.  Not many were printed, but this is a great book if you
can get hold of a copy.

Textiles and Clothing c. 1150-1450, Medieval Finds from Excavations in
London,  Elisabeth Crowfoot, Frances Pritchard, and KAy Staniland,
Museum of London, Her Majesty's Stationery Office, 1992

Agnes Geijer, A History of Textile Art, Sotheby Park Bernet
Publications, Totowa, New Jersy, 1992

Su Grierson, The Colour Caldron, the history and use of natural dyes in
Scotland, Mill Books, Perth, Scotland, 1986  (Another book with both
history and recipes, tested by the author.)

William Leggett, Ancient and Medieval Dyes, Chemical Publishing Co.,
Brooklyn, NY, 1944  (Interesting history of many medieval dyes.
Occasionally  succumbs to repeating unverifiable "facts" from other
sources.)

J.N. Liles, The Art and Craft of Natural Dyeing, traditional recipes for
modern use, University of Tennesse Press, Knoxville, 1990  (This is THE
recipe book for historical dyes.)

J.P. Wild, Textile Manufacture in the Northern Roman Provinces,
Cambridge at the University Press, 1970

I think Compleat Anachronist #44 is less helpful than one could wish,
spending far too much space on plants which will produce dingy browns
and muddy olive greens (which most plants will).

For many of these books, you might prefer interlibrary loan, rather than
buying your own copy.

Medieval sources (recipe books)  to look for are
"Plictho de larte de Tentori ...", Giovanventura Rosetti, Venice, 1540
"Tbouck va Wondre" (The Book of Wonders), printed in Brussels, Flanders,
1513
"Allerly Matkel ...", published in various cities in Germany, 1532
These are some of the earliest books with recipes written down, which
reflects a loss of secrecy in the dyers guilds, and the rise of home
dyeing by housewives.

Mistress Drahomira Jaroslavna  (Jodi Smith)
Barony of Unser Hafen, Kingdom of the Outlands

>Date: Wed, 06 Dec 2000 13:25:28 -0700
>To: herbalist at ansteorra.org
>From: Prydwen <gryphon at carlsbadnm.com>
>Subject: HERB - Herb- Dyestuffs???
>Sender: owner-herbalist at ansteorra.org
>Reply-To: herbalist at ansteorra.org
>
>Greetings all,
>
>  Jadwiga just gave us a nice bibliography of medieval plants used in
>cooking and for medicinals, and I thank her greatly.  However, I'm
getting
>into spinning and weaving and am looking for some books on plants and
>mordants used for medieval dying.  Could some one please post some good

>sources, so I can start haunting ABEBooks.com? 8^D
>
>Thanks,
>Prydwen

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