Leather Dyes and Colours

The range of colours available to the period craftsmen were much more limited than those available today and the dyes were all derived from plants. Modern leather dyes tend to be very opaque, producing very solid colours that can cover up many imperfections in the leather. They are also very resistant to fading. Vegetable dyes are much softer in tone and are more translucent, allowing the character of the leather to show through. The colour range is much more limited and they will fade when exposed to sunlight.

All the dyes I use are based on the recipes found in the 1548 Italian dyers manual "Plictho de Lare de Tentori ...." compiled by Gioanventura Rossetti.

Natural
Yellows and Greens
Reds
Browns
Grays and Black