Traditional Natural Dyes

[Mike S]

Absolutely correct Mike. My experience with period dyes and fabrics comes from the study of material culture as a living historian and authentic reenactor.

The fabric and color distinctions among period British Officer's (and many times senior NCO's) bespoke uniforms, and the as issued enlisted versions is well known among those in that community, but not necessarily by the uninitiated public in general.

[figheadair]

Until about 1820, perhaps later, officers' red coats were dyed with cochineal and were a good red. The cloth for soldiers' coats on the other hand was dyed with madder which was an inferior red, more like a dull brick red which over time turn a reddy brown colour. Wilsons' early records contain references to Officers' Blue and whilst we don't know for certain what that colour/shade was we can hazard a guess that it was a true indigo blue, and thus more expensive, as opposed to the cheaper purplish blue produced by using Logwood which was an inferior dyestuff. It's likely that the latter was used for soldiers' cloth, particularly in tartan.

[Domehead]

I want to thank Mr. MacDonald and Mr. Ashton for the OP and their contributions to it, as well as everyone for commenting on this thread. I did not see it before and it is very informative. Brilliant!

Thanks.
Ryan

[tulloch]

That is a really nice range of colors. Thanks for posting that.

[Benning Boy]

Peoples with a strong DNA connection to Western Europe (and elsewhere) were weaving sophisticated twilled woolen fabric in the Tarim Basin thousands of years before the kilt came into existence -- as we know it at least. They used a variety of bright colors, including reds, done with natural dyes, and the colors of the surviving textiles are still fairly bright, although the fabrics were found with mummies that have been buried in the desert for thousands of years, and not exposed to sunlight for a very long time. The Tarim textiles are very much like examples found in ancient Celtic Europe, suggesting some connection. There is nothing new under the sun, not in the desert anyway.