Bark dyes

Description

Many natural dyes have been extracted from the barks of common trees. The most intense color is the black dye, quercitron, obtained from oak bark. Other barks produce tan to dark brown colors on wool. Generally, the inner bark is collected in the fall or winter, then dried and stored for later use. Many of the barks also are high in tannins. The presence of excess tannin will darken the fabric with age. Some processes use potassium dichromate, ferrous sulfate, or copper sulfate in the final rinse to remove the excess tannins.

Synonyms and Related Terms

colorantes extraídos de la corteza (Esp.); colorants extraits d'écorces (Fr.); coloranti da cortecce di albero (It.)

Authority

• R.J. Adrosko, Natural Dyes in the United States, Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington, DC, 1968

• John and Margaret Cannon, Dye Plants and Dyeing, Herbert Press, London, 1994