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A Variety of Dyestuffs. Left to right - Indigo Carmine 37, Extract Wild Indigo, Baptisia Tinct., 3x, Synthetic Indigo M. L. B. 100%. See below for individual captions. Photograph by Ron Kerner.
A Variety of Dyestuffs. Left to right - Loose Indigo Leaves, Indigo Leaf Balls, Madras Indigo, Indigo Carmine 37, Extract Wild Indigo, Baptisia Tinct., 3x, Synthetic Indigo M. L. B. 100%, Indigo Balls, Indigo S.C., Indigo Paste Ai-ro, Indigo Stick, Ai-bo, Indigo Powder. See below for individual captions. Photograph by Ron Kerner.
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Variety of Indigo Dyestuffs

Collection Various collections, see list below for details.

left to right

  1. Loose Indigo Leaves
    Dada Indigo
    21st Century
    India
    Indigo leaves
    Museum purchase

  2. Indigo Leaf Balls
    Unidentified Maker
    2024
    Nigeria
    Indigo leaves
    Museum purchase

  3. Madras Indigo
    W.H. Schieffelin and Company
    About 1881
    United States of America, New York, NY
    Glass container with indigo
    Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History,
    Gift of the W.H. Schieffelin Company, 1881. MG.050172

  4. Indigo Carmine 37
    Unidentified Maker
    Unknown date
    Original geographical location unknown
    Wild indigo in glass vial
    Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History, Gift of the City of New York Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. 2017.0184.001.08

  5. Extract Wild Indigo,
    (Baptisia Tinctoria), Rattle Bush,
    Horse-Fly Weed, Sophora Tinctoria
    Parke, Davis and Company
    About 1880
    United States of America, Detroit, MI
    Glass
    Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History, 293320.1411

  6. Baptisia Tinct., 3x
    Unidentified Maker
    Unknown date
    Original geographical location unknown
    Wild indigo in glass vial
    Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History,
    Gift of Winifred Curtis Stebbins, 1988.0190.363

  7. Synthetic Indigo M. L. B. 100%,
    From Cargo of Submarine “Deutschland” on Her Second Trip
    Meister Lucius & Bruning
    1916
    Germany
    Cardboard, fabric, cotton wool (container material), synthetic indigo dye cake (overall material)
    Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History,
    Gift of the American Textile History Museum 2017.0234

  8. Indigo Balls
    Unidentified maker
    2024
    Mexico, State of Oaxaca, Coastal
    Indigo dyestuff
    Courtesy of Porfirio Gutiérrez

  9. Indigo S.C.
    Manufactured by G.W. Aimar & Company
    Unknown date
    United States of America, Charleston, SC
    Glass jar containing indigo sample
    Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History, 1978.0883.112

  10. Indigo Paste: Ai-ro
    Unidentified Maker
    Unknown date
    Japan
    Glass bottle of powdered pigment
    Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History, Gift of T. Tokuno,
    Chief of the Japanese Bureau of Engraving and Printing (Insatsukyoku), 1889-90. GA.03445

  11. Indigo Stick, Ai-bo
    Unidentified Maker
    Unknown date
    Japan
    Stick of indigo
    Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History. Gift of T. Tokuno,
    Chief of the Japanese Bureau of Engraving and Printing (Insatsukyoku), 1889-90. GA.03446

  12. Indigo Powder
    Dada Indigo
    21st Century
    India
    Indigo
    Museum purchase

A Variety of Dyestuffs. Left to right - Indigo Carmine 37, Extract Wild Indigo, Baptisia Tinct., 3x, Synthetic Indigo M. L. B. 100%. See below for individual captions. Photograph by Ron Kerner.
A Variety of Dyestuffs. Left to right - Loose Indigo Leaves, Indigo Leaf Balls, Madras Indigo, Indigo Carmine 37, Extract Wild Indigo, Baptisia Tinct., 3x, Synthetic Indigo M. L. B. 100%, Indigo Balls, Indigo S.C., Indigo Paste Ai-ro, Indigo Stick, Ai-bo, Indigo Powder. See below for individual captions. Photograph by Ron Kerner.
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