Credit: ©The Royal Society
    Image number: RS.20953

    ‘Hofmann violet on Calico’

    Date
    1874
    Creator
    Unknown, Artist
    After
    William Crookes (1832 - 1919, British) , Knight Chemist, Chemist
    Library reference
    34611
    Material
    Technique
    Dimensions
    height (page): 210mm
    width (page): 130mm
    Subject
    Description
    Floral calico plate depicting ‘Hofmann’ violet applied by the steam style of dyeing, with notes above: ‘The colour is mixed with red liquor, and with a solution of arsenious acid in water to which some glycerin has been added, as directed on p.207. Both these compounds together form a mordant. After steaming for an hour it is gently soaped. The colour is thickend with gum and starch.’

    Plate on page 613 of William Crookes’ A practical handbook of dyeing and calico-printing (London, 1874), which provided information about the chemistry and process of dyeing, specifically calico-dyeing.

    Sir William Crookes (1832-1919), Knight chemist, was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1863 and served as its President between 1913-1915.
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