indigo

Ethiopia
17th Century
Source: Wion, A. (2004). An Analysis of 17th-century Ethiopian Pigments. In: Christian Ethiopian Art.
Recipe Details

Ingredients

Indigofera spp, Indigofera arrecta, Indigofera tinctoria

Preparation Steps

Extracted from indigo trees (Indigofera spp). When observed under the microscope, samples appear homogenous, suggesting it was used as a dye rather than a granular pigment (p. 106). Local varieties include I. arrecta and I. tinctoria (p. 106).

Original Recipe Text

Extracted from indigo trees (Indigofera spp). When observed under the microscope, samples appear homogenous, suggesting it was used as a dye rather than a granular pigment (p. 106). Local varieties include I. arrecta and I. tinctoria (p. 106).

Evidence

"The blue colour used in this manuscript is indigo."

Remarks

Known in Gi'iz as 'nil'. Indigo was used for the cloth of Mary and other characters (p. 106). Historical records by Manuel Barradas (1634) confirm the plant grew in Tigray (p. 106).

Scientific Analysis
Analytical Techniques
spectrometry
microscopy
Certainty Level
Confirmed
Instrumentally Verified
Verified
Metadata
Material Type
pigment
ColorBlue
RegionEthiopia
Approx. Year1650
Source Information
AuthorWion, A.
CollectionMS B.N. Eth. Abb. 114
Language
N/A
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