Mud Dyed Cloth

Heritage

Sustainable

Traditional

Plant based textile mordanted with tannin, painted with iron rich mud paste, dried soil removed when dry, iron modifies the colour of the mordant to black, brown or grey

Material

Fiber
Minerals and stone
Other

Craft

Printing
Textiles
Other

General Technique

Combining
Structural modifying
Other

Specific Technique

Mordanting plant based textile with myrobalan or natural tannin based dye like black tea leaves for example.

Mud painted on surface with sticks and brushes. When mud is dry (a fine powder) it is removed by hand rubbing the textile

Properties & Qualities

Application

Art Accessory Clothing

Colour

Black Brown Earth - Coloured

Sample Information

Date of creation

July 2020

Dimensions

15 & 60cm width x 30 cm height x 0.5 cm depth mm

Weight

Varies depending on textile used

Culture & Context

Technique learned during an online workshop taught by Aboubkar Fofana, Malian artist

https://www.aboubakarfofana.com

Process & Production

The process consists of mordanting a plant based textile with myrobalan (or tannin based natural dye) then painting with the mud directly on the cloth. 

When dry, the grey dust is removed to reveal a black colour print.

Recipe Details

Myrobalan mordant textile (dip and dry three times)

Hand draw/print with prepared mud (fermented iron rich mud)

Remove dry mud by gently rubbing the cloth

Credits

Craft Maker

Cecilia Lopez Naughton

Library Contributor

National College of Art & Design Ireland

Photographer

Cecilia Lopez Naughton