The Aztecs and colour
Textiles and weaving
All the weaving was done by the women. They gathered the fibre, prepared
it, spun, dyed and then wove it into cloth using simple wooden looms.
Originally fibres from the maguey plant were used, later being replaced
by cotton obtained through trade with other regions.
The fibres were dyed using urine as a mordant to help the dyeing process.
All the dyes used were natural and came mostly from plants:
Reds
were produced by using achiotl later known as annatto.
Blue could be obtained by using anil or indigo
Black could be gained by using the dark seed of the genipa plant
Other dyestuffs came from the cochineal beetle found living on cacti which has been used world-wide to create a bright red colour, and a purple colour from purpura shells found along the Pacific coast. These shells were also used by the Romans to create Imperial Purple.
Blue could be obtained by using anil or indigo
Black could be gained by using the dark seed of the genipa plant
Other dyestuffs came from the cochineal beetle found living on cacti which has been used world-wide to create a bright red colour, and a purple colour from purpura shells found along the Pacific coast. These shells were also used by the Romans to create Imperial Purple.
Copyright
Jorge Pérez de Lara / Mesoweb.com
Copyright
Jorge Pérez de Lara / Mesoweb.com
Also See:
