Organic Oak Gall Extract
£12.50
Oak Gall Extract (Quercus Infectoria)
Traditionally used by natural dyers for mordanting plant/cellulose fibres before dyeing. These days it can be used alone or with an alum mordant for even deeper depths of colour.
The oak gall is formed when a Gall Wasp lays its lava in the bud of the tree, and the tree reacts by growing a tissue around it, protecting the wasp and itself symbiotically.
Once the wasp has hatched out of the gall, it can be plucked from the tree, which no longer needs it, and ground down into a powder.
Colours:
A range of beiges, and yellows with alum. Iron takes it towards grey.
Ingredients:
Oak Gall Extract (Quercus Infectoria)
Info/about:
The Oak tree itself is surely one of our most beloved, quintessentially English plants. Revered for his strong, ancient and wise demeanor, a keeper of truth, bestower of safety and inspiring bravery. The Q. infectoria, is a small oak rarely reaching over 6 feet and therefore more of a shrub than a tree. Indigenous to Asia Minor and Persia.
Herbal and traditional uses:
Oak galls have been used for tanning leather across the globe for centuries and as far back as the ancient Sumerian culture, with cuneiform tablets dating 3000-2000 B.C containing writing of their use.
In the past in this country, our traditional writing inks were made with oak gall and iron and applied with quills or later dipping pens - Find the recipe in my book and try it yourself.
Gallnuts from Q. infectoria oak contain the highest naturally occurring level of tannin: 50-75%. Compared with 15-20% of the English Oaks.
Medicinally they are used for their astringent and warming qualities.
Recipe:
8-10% WOF
Put the required amount of powder in a bowl, add a few drops of hot water to make a paste, then add more water gradually until you have the required amount for your dye bath. Bring to a simmer for 30-60 mins to extract into the water. Strain and add your pre-wetted fibres. Heat for 30- 60 mins until the desired depth of colour is acquired. Leave to saturate overnight for deeper shades. Remove and wash, rinse, air dry.
Ref Botanical Inks book for further info on dyeing instructions for cellulose/protein fibres, mordanting etc.
Have a few extra items to dye lighter shades in your exhaust bath as there will be plenty of dye still available after the first batch for several more.
Fastness:
high colour fastness
Mordants/Modifiers:
Oak gall + No mordant- beige
Oak gall followed by alum - yellows
Oak gall with @% Iron after mordant- greys/blacks
Ph sensitivity:
Very stable
Origin:
India
Produced using systems approved by the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS 4.0)
Extraction technique:
Ground to a powder and extracted in water.
Transport:
Air courier from India to UK
Shipped from Botanical Inks in Bristol via Royal Mail
Packaging:
Packaged in natural unbleached food grade waxed paper and secured natural plant gum paper tape and 100% natural unbleached twine and placed inside a biodegradable corn starch mailer bag - safe for health and environment.