Weld

Weld can be used to dye linen, wool, and silk all shades of yellow, producing a bright and beautiful colour with proper management. It was in use by the first millennium BC, and perhaps earlier than either woad or madder. It was used in the Bayeux Tapestry. Until the discovery of quercitron it was the most used yellow dye but by the end of the 19th century was being replaced by the synthetic aniline dyes which were cheaper to produce. Historically, France exported large quantities of weld. The plant prefers waste places. Small, thin-stemmed plants with yellow or greenish flowers and plenty of leaves are a better source of dye than large, thick-stemmed ones, and those that grow on dry, sandy soils are better than those grown on rich, moist soils. To produce the greatest amount of dye, the plant should be cut before the fruits have developed much, otherwise the pigment diminishes. Reseda is a primary dye for the wool tapestries at the Ramses Wissa Wassef Art Centre in Giza, Egypt. Each February, the reseda is harvested for the annual wool dyeing event among all the artists at the centre.