Mordanting

Mordants

Mordants were well known to dyers for centuries before the introduction of logwood to Europe, as described by Pliny the Elder (23-79 AD) (Book 35 of the Natural History).  Until 1458, the Muslims controlled much of the alum supply.  The discovery of an alum deposit in Italy in that year, allowed the Vatican control over alum supplies throughout Europe (Finlay 2002).

The use of iron as a mordant is described in ancient texts (eg. Innsbruck Manuscript); it is unclear how early the use of copperas (iron sulphate) began in mordanting but it was certainly used for iron gall ink before the 17^th century.  In this process, I used copperas because it is more easily dissolved than “rusty iron” and would hopefully give a more uniform dye. 

Certainly other mordants were used. Fortunately, today we know that many of these are not safe to use, such as chrome.

 

Alum

 

Iron and tannin mordant

Fibres mordanted in Iron Sulphate (copperas)

Sources

Pliny the Elder (23-79 AD) (Book 35 of the Natural History)

Finlay, Victoria, 2002.  Colour: Travels through the paintbox. Hodder and Stoughton, London, UK.