Natural Dyes:
* Black: Derived from the roots of the kawakawa (Piper excelsum) or kohuhu (Pittosporum tenuifolium) plants.
* Red: Made from the rātā (Metrosideros robusta) tree bark.
* Yellow: Extracted from the Kowhai (Sophora tetraptera) tree bark.
* Brown: Obtained from the pōhutukawa (Metrosideros excelsa) tree bark.
* Orange: Derived from the utu (Cordia subcordata) tree bark.
* Green: Made from a combination of yellow and blue dyes.
* Blue: Obtained from the kōwhai (Sophora tetraptera) flower.
Methods of Dyeing:
The Māori used various methods for dyeing flax:
* Boiling: The dyeing material was boiled in water to extract the color, and the flax was then immersed in the dye bath.
* Soaking: The flax was soaked in a dye solution for a longer period, often overnight.
* Steaming: Flax was steamed in a container over a pot of boiling dye.
* Mordants: Materials like iron oxide (from rust) were used to fix the dye and make it more permanent.
Variations:
* Different parts of the same plant could produce different shades of dye.
* The intensity of the color depended on the length of the dyeing process and the concentration of the dye.
* The Māori also used natural pigments to paint patterns on the dyed flax, adding even more variation and complexity to their textiles.
These dyes were not just used for coloring flax; they were also used for dyeing other materials like feathers, wood, and baskets. The Māori's mastery of natural dyes played a vital role in creating their unique and beautiful cultural expressions.