Madder Red - A History of Luxury and Trade

Madder red is an ancient dyestuff, extracted from the root of the madder plant, growing in many countries around the world. The secret of the oriental dyeing process to obtain the colour known as Turkey Red was avidly sought by Europeans. This book traces the history of the trade in dyes.

List of contents

Foreword: The gifted eye 1. Russian dreams of the bearded root 2. The word and the plant 3. The 5000-year-old root: history in the Old World 4. The venturers’ legacy 5. The care of madder from seed to sack 6. The farmer’s rewards, banks and bankruptcy 7. The purer the colour: ground krap and garancine 8. Inside the vat: the hunt for the dyestuff 9. Almond husks, brick dust and ‘super-fine-fine’ 10. Leonardo’s choice madder lakes 11. The secret recipes of Turkey red 12. An Oriental tradition 13. Fashionable prices 14. The 19th-century madder boom 15. Coal tar reds and the death of madder 16. William Morris: the sumptuous resurrection 17. The dyer’s grail: alchemical philosophies and folklore

About the author

Robert Chenciner

Summary

This text examines the history of the ancient Oriental dyestuff madder red which was avidly sought by Europeans and finally cracked by the French in 1760, and it became the main crop in the Caspian Caucasus.

Additional text

'The intriguing story of the madder red plant unfolds in this meticulously researched account of the economic impact of this small, unassuming plant of the world. The text is richly enhanced by a multitude of fine illustrations, charts, and maps.' - CHOICE

Product details

• Authors: Robert Chenciner, Chenciner Robert
• Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd.
• Languages: English
• Product format: Hardback
• Released: 22.06.2000
• EAN: 9780700712595
• ISBN: 978-0-7007-1259-5
• No. of pages: 384
• Series: Caucasus World; Caucasus World
• Subjects: Humanities, art, music > History; Social sciences, law, business > Sociology > General, dictionaries; Eastern Europe, POLITICAL SCIENCE / General, SOCIAL SCIENCE / Regional Studies, Regional Studies, Regional / International studies, Asian History, SOCIAL SCIENCE / Cultural & Ethnic Studies / General