Natural dyes for Lielvārde belts: from plants and insects
Before synthetic dyes in the 19th century, Latvians obtained colors from nearly 130 plants and insects. Lielvārde belts were dyed with scale insects and mordanted with tin salt.
Historical dyeing methods
The introduction of synthetic dyes in the 19th century revolutionized the textile industry, but before that, people relied on natural colorants. In Latvia, dyes were obtained from nearly 130 different plants as well as from insects, according to researchers.
Lielvārde belts and their dyeing
A particularly interesting example is the Lielvārde belt – a traditional Latvian belt adorned with rich patterns. Anete Karlsone, leading researcher at the University of Latvia's Institute of Latvian History, revealed on Latvijas Radio's program "Zināmais nezināmajā" that these belts were dyed using scale insects, which produce a red hue. Additionally, tin salt was used as a mordant for color fastness.
These methods demonstrate the deep knowledge of ancient masters regarding natural dye properties and processing technologies, allowing them to create bright and durable textiles.
