A Dictionary of Arts: Compound colours.

A Dictionary of Arts, Manufactures, and Mines; containing A Clear Exposition of Their Principles and Practice

by Andrew Ure, M. D.;
F. R. S. M. G. S. Lond.: M. Acad. M. S. Philad.; S. PH. DOC. N. GERM. Ranow.; Mulh. Etc. Etc.

Illustrated with nearly fifteen hundred engravings on wood
Eleventh American, From The Last London Edition.
To which is appended, a Supplement of Recent Improvements to The Present Time.

New York: D Appleton & company, 200 Broadway. Philadelphia: George S. Appleton, 148 Chestnut St.
MDCCCXLVII

1847

COMPOUND colours. If the effects of the colouring particles did not vary according to the combinations which the form, and the actions exercised upon them by the different substances present in a dyeing bath, we might determine with precision affording these colours separately. Though the chemical actions of the mordants, and of the liquor in the dye-bath often changes the results, yet theory may always predict them within a certain degree. It is not the colour appropriate to the dye-stuffs which is to be considered as the constituent part of compound colours, but that which they must assume principally to the operation of the chemical agents employed.

1. The mixture of blue and yellow dyes produces green. D'Amboyrney, indeed, say that he has extracted a fast green from the fermented juice of the berries of the buckthorn (rhamnus frangula), but no dyer would trust to such a color.

2. The mixture of red and blue produces violet, purple, columbine (dove-color), pansy, amaranth, lilac, mallow, and a great many other shades, determined by the nature and tone of the red and blue dye-stuffs, as well as their relative proportions in the bath.

3. The mixture of red and yellow produces orange, mordoré, cinnamon, coquelicot, brick, capuchin; with the addition of blue, olives of various shades; and with duns instead of yellows, chestnut, snuff, must, and other tints.

4. Blacks of the lighter kinds constitute grays; and, mixed with other colours, produce marrone (marroons), coffees damascenes. For further details upon this subject, see CALICO PRINTING, DYEING, as also the individual colours in their alphabetical places.