84. A Dye Liquor for 3 Colors.
A dye liquor from which three dye solutions can come. Bruise and mix with water 'A of
a part of Krimnos and 1 part of dyer's alum. Put the wool in and it
becomes scarlet red. JJ it is to he leek green add ground sulphur with
water. If, however, it is to be quince yellow then add unadulterated
natron along with water.
85. Cleaning with Soap Weed.
Cleaning
with soap weed is done in the following way. Take and bruise soap weed,
put it in water and heat it. Then put the wool in and shake it a
little. Lift out and dry it. Then mordant it afterwards.
86. For Purple.
Boil
asphodel and natron, put the wool in it 8 drachmas at a time, and rinse
it out. Then take and bruise 1 mina of grape skins, mix these with
vinegar and let stand 6 hours. Then boil the mixture and put the wool
in.
87. Mordanting.
Boil
chalcanthum and skorpiurus and employ for any desired color. These
substances, however, also mordant all kinds of stones and skins.
The
term "chalcanthum" was used to denote various products of the
weathering of iron and copper pyrites and hence was either copper or
iron sulfate or mixtures of these salts. The Greek word "skorpiurus"
was, according to some, a name given to one of a species of
sapindaceous plants.
r
. The Dissolving
of Alkanet. Alkanet is dissolved by oil, water, and nuts. The best of
all dissolving mediums is, however, camel's urine. For this makes the
alkanet dye not only fast, but also durable.
89. Another (Recipe).
Bruise
alkanet and mix natron with it until it gets blood-colored. The boiling
is done with water. Then dye what you desire. Or else bruise alkanet in
the same way with saf-jtower, afterwards put it in and let the blood
color be absorbed. And if you bruise alkanet with telis then proceed
likewise. Alkanet in company with chalcanthum, however, dyes linen as
well as cambric. For with chalcanthum, alkanet red changes into purple.
"Telis," a certain species of a plant of flower.
90. Making Purple Brilliant.
To
make purple brilliant cook alkanet with purging weed and this will
dissolve it; or with wild cucumber, purgative cucumber or hellebore.
91. The Dissolving of Alkanet.
Take
alkanet and grind fine with barley malt. The barley malt should,
however, be jresh. Then mix the alkanet with vinegar and let it remain
in it over night. Heat the alkanet again in the morning, steep it in
vinegar and leave it until it gives up the color. After that take the
wool and put it in lime water and then in the dye liquor. After you
have then put it in an extract of archil, treat it then in the same way
as has been explained in detail in passage 26.
This latter sentence is apparently a reference to another work or collection of recipes now lost to us.
92. The Dissolving of Comarum.
I
To dissolve comarum. Grind tartar with water, put it in a small dish
and stir it. tour the clear water in another vessel, put ground comarum
in it, stir it and it will give up its color at once. Then let it
clarify until the following day and you will find purple.
