Plant
Madder root
Madder root → Madder red
Picture to come.
The root of the madder plant, dried and ground to make one of the most important red dyes of medieval Europe. Used with a mordant such as alum, it gave reds, pinks and oranges on wool. Madder-dyed ribbons have been found in Anglo-Scandinavian York. Much of the madder used in medieval England came from the Continent; how far it was grown in England in the twelfth century is uncertain.
Caveats (confidence: medium)
English cultivation in this period not established; Continental supply is well attested for later medieval centuries.
Sources: blog.metmuseum.org · collections.yorkarchaeologicaltrust.co.uk
Used to make
- Dye-bath of madder red