Murex trunculus sea snails have been the source of the world’s most expensive dye for millennia. Harvested by hand from rocky Mediterranean coastlines, these snails contain a small gland that produces a unique dyestuff. The glands are a by-product of snails eaten locally as a fried snack, with the precious pigment carefully extracted and dried for further use.

From this source comes Tyrian purple and tekhelet blue, two legendary colors of antiquity associated with royalty, priestly garments, and sacred traditions. Just like indigo, murex requires a reduced vat to reveal its hues. In a standard vat, it will produce purple on wool and blue on silk.

Active dye components: 6,6’-dibromoindigo (dibromoindigotin), indigotin derivatives
CI Natural Violet 1

Shading Tips

• Wool: reduced vat produces deep purples
• Silk: reduced vat produces brilliant blues
• With light modifiers: subtle shifts between violet, indigo-blue, and reddish purple
• Multiple dips: increase depth and richness of shade
• As with indigo, vat chemistry is crucial to color outcome