ABSTRACT

THE CHEMICAL revolution which led to the synthesis of alizarin and the replacement of madder took place in several countries in Europe. It is ironic that Westerners, as the cultured descendants of former colonial masters, were also often responsible for initiating the revival of natural dyes in Oriental lands. Exciting revivals blossomed, but popular public taste had turned towards the cheaper products of mass-production. The use of madder did survive in a few instances but the industry had almost disappeared.