From: Joachim Oppenheimer (joachim@microdsi.net)
Date: 04/29/02-09:45:14 PM Z
I developed an interest in natural dyes when I lived with the Navajo for a
while some time ago and saw that the modern rugs and blankets were not as
light-fast as the older ones (that sold in the off-reservation shops for
substantially more). Both showed actinic degradation effects, but the older
ones less so. I watched the modern dyes prepared by boiling walnuts and
other organic substances. The older fabrics were dyed with SYNTHETIC dyes
shipped out West to the Navajo (I am speaking of the Civil War era and
reconstruction period) from Wilmington Delaware. The synthetic dyes, while
not as good as their European (German) counterparts of the day, are superior
to the modern organic. But we are living with an organic mind set today. I
will drink my tea, as the Brits do with milk, to cut the tannins. I have not
been impressed with tea-dyed prints; sulfides give far better control and
uniformity. Joachim
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Judy Seigel [mailto:jseigel@panix.com]
> Sent: Monday, April 29, 2002 10:27 PM
> To: alt-photo-process-l@sask.usask.ca
> Subject: Re: black walnuts
>
>
>
>
> On Mon, 29 Apr 2002, Christina Z. Anderson wrote:
> > .... It must be that the
> > sun tans the tea further, and not that this is totally scientific by any
> > means, but it does make me less cautious about the lack of
> archivalness of
> > tea toning as far as UV fading is concerned. So, I guess if
> you want to
> > hasten the aging look of a print by staining highlights and shadows, tea
> > wouldn't be a bad choice--unless you have walnuts in your back yard.
>
> Chris, I wouldn't assume that the darker tone is permanent without putting
> it in the dark for a while. A friend of mine left a cyanotype in bright
> sunlight -- the paper went almost blank, then came back most of the way
> when stored in the dark.
>
> Tea could be the same, different, or something else.
>
> Judy
>
>
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