Färgad av kulturarvet Utövarperspektiv på växtfärgning som kulturarv

Abstract

The aim of this thesis is to situate practicing of natural dyeing in the context of cultural heritage. By studying natural dyeing from a practitioners perspective, the goal is to put focus on the role of the individual in the value assessment of cultural heritage. The the-sis examines how to perceive the practice of natural dyeing as cultural heritage, how practitioners perceive and perform their craft, and mainly what incentives the practition-ers have for exerting natural dyeing. The study has been conducted through literature studies as well as interviews with practitioners. The study shows that natural dyes has been attendant in human life through history. The literature on the subject is mainly instructive, containing detailed recipes on household dyeing. The Swedish handicrafts movement along with Folkbildningsrörelsen can be said to have played important roles in conserving the knowledge about natural dyes during early 18th century. The analysis of the conducted interviews shows that the aspects on natural dyeing most emphasized by the informants is social interaction and the dyeing process. Also curiosity and meditativity is regarded rather important. The tendency to perceive natural dyeing as heritage as well as exerting the tradition can be said to depend on the practitioners own preferences.