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Ever since the dawn of civilization man's inclination to make different objects more pleasing by painting them with beautiful colors and by dyeing objects like fabric and pottery led to the discovery of delightful coloring materials. Painting and dyeing have got their utilitarian value also. They protect the surface from getting damaged in changing atmospheric conditions, hide the defects on the surface of different objects like structural walls, cloth and hair. etc., and prevent metals from getting corroded.<ref name=":0">Krishnamurthy. Radha, (1997) ''History of Technology in India, Vol. 1, From Antiquity to c. 1200 A.D.'' New Delhi: Indian National Science Academy. (Chapter Dyes, Mordants and Pigments: Page 300 - 312)</ref>

Ever since the dawn of civilization man's inclination to make different objects more pleasing by painting them with beautiful colors and by dyeing objects like fabric and pottery led to the discovery of delightful coloring materials. Painting and dyeing have got their utilitarian value also. They protect the surface from getting damaged in changing atmospheric conditions, hide the defects on the surface of different objects like structural walls, cloth and hair. etc., and prevent metals from getting corroded.<ref name=":0">Krishnamurthy. Radha, (1997) ''History of Technology in India, Vol. 1, From Antiquity to c. 1200 A.D.'' New Delhi: Indian National Science Academy. (Chapter Dyes, Mordants and Pigments: Page 300 - 312)</ref>

The principal dyeing materials were turmeric madder, sunflower orpiment, cochineal, lac and kermes. Some other substance having tinting properties were Kampillaka, Pattanga and Jatuka. The term dye, is derived from old English word daeg or daeh meaning "colour". The earliest dyes were probably discovered by accident and may have been noticed from the stains from available berries, fruits and nuts and blossoms, leaves, stems and roots of shrubs. The exact period of the commencement of the art of dyeing in the world is not ascertained.

The principal dyeing materials were turmeric madder, sunflower orpiment, cochineal, lac and kermes. Some other substances having tinting properties were Kampillaka (Mallotus phillippinesis), Pattanga (Cesalpinia sappan) and Jatuka (a species of Oldenlandia). The term dye, is derived from old English word daeg or daeh meaning "colour". The earliest dyes were probably discovered by accident and may have been noticed from the stains from available berries, fruits and nuts and blossoms, leaves, stems and roots of shrubs. The exact period of the commencement of the art of dyeing in the world is not ascertained.

== Pottery - Preparation and Painting ==

== Pottery - Preparation and Painting ==

Archaeological evidences of pre-historic settlements unearthed in various parts of India have revealed a large number of earthen ware items implying that the inhabitants of these early settlements were well-acquainted with the techniques related to pottery making, dye preparation and painting. It is interesting to note that regarding the pre-historic cultures, archaeologists have given a broad classification as Buff-ware culture and Red-ware culture based on the colours of the potteries distinctively found in those settlements. Potters' wheel was the characteristic implement of the Indus valley civilization.<ref name=":0" />

Archaeological evidences of pre-historic settlements unearthed in various parts of India have revealed a large number of earthen ware items implying that the inhabitants of these early settlements were well-acquainted with the techniques related to pottery making, dye preparation and painting. It is interesting to note that regarding the pre-historic cultures, archaeologists have given a broad classification as Buff-ware culture and Red-ware culture based on the colours of the potteries distinctively found in those settlements. Potters' wheel was the characteristic implement of the Indus valley civilization.<ref name=":0" />

The characteristic ‘red and black’ pottery of Harappan civilization and a few polychrome potteries that have also been unearthed in these sites are painted in green and red on a buff slip. Chemical analysis revealed that red or Solomon colours in these objects are due to the presence of iron components in the clay. The slip of bright red colour is due to ferric oxide. The black and chocolate designs that are found painted on the body of the pottery owe their colour to oxides of manganese. The colouring agents used by the Indus valley people are used even today by potters. Many of the ancient techniques of selecting and applying colouring materials have come down to the present time also.<ref name=":0" />

The characteristic ‘red and black’ pottery of Harappan civilization and a few polychrome potteries that have also been unearthed in these sites are painted in green and red on a buff slip. Chemical analysis revealed that red or Solomon colors in these objects are due to the presence of iron components in the clay. The slip of bright red color is due to ferric oxide. The black and chocolate designs that are found painted on the body of the pottery owe their color to oxides of manganese. The coloring agents used by the Indus valley people are used even today by potters. Many of the ancient techniques of selecting and applying coloring materials have come down to the present time also.<ref name=":0" />

Slip treatment was given to the pots before they were fired. Slipping serves two purposes it helps in closing the pores and provides smooth surfaces helpful in painting a design on them. Slipping was done by dipping the pot after burnishing in a solution or by painting with a solution formed by the finest portion of the clay used for making the pot or of any suitable materials such as ochres, pigments.

Slip treatment was given to the pots before they were fired. Slipping serves two purposes it helps in closing the pores and provides smooth surfaces helpful in painting a design on them. Slipping was done by dipping the pot after burnishing in a solution or by painting with a solution formed by the finest portion of the clay used for making the pot or of any suitable materials such as ochres, pigments.

== Dyes for Textiles ==

== Dyes for Textiles ==

The art of dyeing fabrics for ornamentation and decoration in India has an ancient origin. It can be gathered from the Vedic texts that clothes were mainly made of wool; and the garments were often dyed red, purple and brown. Apparently the people were acquainted with the art of dyeing with certain natural vegetable coloring matters. Panini (c. 500 B.C.) also makes mentions of indigo, lac and red ochre for dyeing cloth (IV.I, 42).<ref name=":1">Ray, P. (1956) ''History of Chemistry in Ancient and Medieval India, incorporating the History of Hindu Chemistry by Acharya Prafulla Chandra Ray.'' Calcutta: Indian Chemical Society</ref>  

The art of dyeing fabrics for ornamentation and decoration in India has an ancient origin. It can be gathered from the Vedic texts that clothes were mainly made of wool; and the garments were often dyed red, purple and brown. Apparently the people were acquainted with the art of dyeing with certain natural vegetable coloring matters. Panini (c. 500 B.C.) also makes mentions of indigo, lac and red ochre for dyeing cloth (IV.I, 42).<ref name=":1">Ray, P. C. (1956) ''History of Chemistry in Ancient and Medieval India, incorporating the History of Hindu Chemistry by Acharya Prafulla Chandra Ray.'' Calcutta: Indian Chemical Society</ref>  

Vedic texts provide evidence to the fact that the art of dyeing and printing textiles was quite advanced in that time. It is said that the robe of a king who is initiated to perform Rajasuya Yajna was fully worked or painted with designs of various form of the yajna. Terms like रजयित्री (rajayitri) in Yajurveda indicate that dyeing of cloth was a profession in which people were engaged. .....वासःपल्पूलीं प्रकामाय रजयित्रीम् ॥ (Yaju. Shuk. 30.12)

Vedic texts provide evidence to the fact that the art of dyeing and printing textiles was quite advanced in that time. It is said that the robe of a king who is initiated to perform Rajasuya Yajna was fully worked or painted with designs of various form of the yajna. Terms like रजयित्री (rajayitri) in Yajurveda indicate that dyeing of cloth was a profession in which people were engaged. .....वासःपल्पूलीं प्रकामाय रजयित्रीम् ॥ (Yaju. Shuk. 30.12)

Dyes were used in cosmetics extensively. Examples include<ref name=":0" />

Dyes were used in cosmetics extensively. Examples include<ref name=":0" />

* A paste of sandalwood colored with lac and other dyes smeared over the body and applied in different patterns

* A paste of sandalwood colored with lac and other dyes smeared over the body and applied in different patterns for decoration.

* Collyrium (anjana) made of dark powdered antimony was used to decorate eyes

* '''Collyrium''' (anjana) made of dark powdered antimony was used to decorate eyes

* Vermilion (sindhura), lac (laksha), and gorochana (a yellow pigment) were used for marking tilaka on the forehead.

* '''Vermilion''' (sindhura), lac (laksha), and gorochana (a yellow pigment) were used for marking tilaka on the forehead.

* Lac was used to dye lips, tips of fingers, toes, palms and soles of feet.

* '''Lac''' was used to dye lips, tips of fingers, toes, palms and soles of feet.

* Henna or madayantika (mendikaa, mehndi, gorante etc in different Indian languages) is a popular shrub in India whose leaves are made as a paste and mixed with lime to produce the brownish red color used to color palms and nails, and even feet.  

* '''Henna''' or madayantika (mendikaa, mehndi, gorante etc in different Indian languages) is a popular shrub in India whose leaves are made as a paste and mixed with lime to produce the brownish red color used to color palms and nails, and even feet.

* Rasaratnakara mentions the preparation of kunkuma used as tilaka from the boiled essense of palasapushpa.  

* Rasaratnakara mentions the preparation of '''kunkuma used as tilaka''' from the boiled essense of palasapushpa.

* Colors were used for preparing rangoli also.

* Colors were used for preparing '''rangoli''' also.

Hair dyes were used extensively to blacken the greyhair. Varahamihira gives a method of preparing hair dyes from grains of harika (paspalum scrobiculatum) and loha churna.  

Hair dyes were used extensively to blacken the greyhair. Varahamihira gives a method of preparing hair dyes from grains of harika (paspalum scrobiculatum) and loha churna.  

== References ==

== References ==