A sample book showing three rows of thirty silk dyes. The dyes are largely dark in color ranging from pink to green to orange to blue to purple to brown to black in varying shades. Each dye is numbered above and the colors are named in groups with evocative color names. The first row reads [Etrusque, Varech, Madère, Matelot, Cordoue], meaning [Etruscan, Kelp, Madeira, Sailor, Cordoba]. The second row [Acier, Marjolaine, Prairie, Charleston, Rouseau], meaning [Steel, Marjoram, Prairie, Charleston, Rouseau]. The third row [Amethyste, Cédre, Citardon, Lichen, Pensée], meaning [Amethyst, Cedar, Lemon, Lichen, Pansy]. At the top of the book [CHAMBRE SYNDICALE DES TEINTURIERS], meaning [DYER'S TRADE UNION] is printed in black capital letters with H.A. ELSBERG stamped in black capitals underneath. There is a red stamp at the top left corner along with the number 1936-31-1 in black.

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Object Timeline

1927	Work on this object began.
1936	We acquired this object.
2015	We photographed this object. We photographed this object. We photographed this object. We photographed this object. We photographed this object. We photographed this object.
2018	We exhibited this object.
2024	You found it!

Sample Book, Carte de Nuances de la Chambre Syndicale des Teinturiers (Shade Card of the Dyer’s Trade Union)

This is a Sample book. It was produced by Chambre Syndicale des Teinturiers. It is dated 1927 and we acquired it in 1936. Its medium is paper, cardboard, silk. It is a part of the Textiles department.

This sample card shows the silk dyes available for Autumn 1927. Each color is numbered, but also named, with references to everything from sailor’s slang to French colonies to chocolate-filled cakes. Evocative color names remain an important sales tool today.

It is credited Gift of Herman A. Elsberg.

Double paged book plate showing a color chart on the right hand page which is split into rectangles, three wide and nine long. The colors start white at the top darken through pink, red and burgundy to black. The second, third, fourth, sixth, seventh and eighth row have letters on the left f, d, b, i, k and m. The colors are also labelled underneath each rectangle on the second to eighth rows: [Hermosa Pink, La France Pink, Shrimp Pink, Eosine Pink, Geranium Pink, Strawberry Pink, Begonia Rose, Rose Doree, Peach Red, Spectrum Red, Scarlet Red, Scarlet, Carmine, Nopal Red, Brazil Red, Ox-blood Red, Garnet Brown, Morocco Red, Victoria Lake, Maroon, Claret Brown]. While the three columns are labeled Red, OR and OOR. In the top right corner black text states that this is [Plate 1]. The left hand page apears to be translucent so that text from the previous page is visible through it.

Book, Color Standards and Color Nomenclature
letterpress with collage on paper.
Smithsonian Libraries, QC495 .R54.
92.2016.24

Sample Book
paper, leather, cotton, silk, and wool.
Gift of Eleanor and Sarah Hewitt.
1931-88-151-c

Sample Book (France)
cardboard, silk.
Gift of Herman A. Elsberg.
1936-31-2

Our curators have highlighted 3 objects that are related to this one.

Sample Book Of Ribbons (France)
paper, silk.
Gift of the Estate of Herman A. Elsberg.
1941-35-3

Sample Book (USA)
cotton, rayon.
Gift of Mrs. Lincoln Johnson.
1976-54-1

Manufacturer's Sample Book (USA)
linen, cotton, synthetic, paper.
Gift of William Hardy, Inc..
1939-61-2

Its dimensions are

H x W (closed): 37.1 × 29.5 cm (14 5/8 × 11 5/8 in.) H x W (2-page spread): 37.1 × 61 cm (14 5/8 in. × 24 in.) H x W (4-page spread): 37.1 × 111.8 cm (14 5/8 in. × 44 in.)

Cite this object as

Sample Book, Carte de Nuances de la Chambre Syndicale des Teinturiers (Shade Card of the Dyer’s Trade Union); Produced by Chambre Syndicale des Teinturiers; France; paper, cardboard, silk; H x W (closed): 37.1 × 29.5 cm (14 5/8 × 11 5/8 in.) H x W (2-page spread): 37.1 × 61 cm (14 5/8 in. × 24 in.) H x W (4-page spread): 37.1 × 111.8 cm (14 5/8 in. × 44 in.); Gift of Herman A. Elsberg; 1936-31-1

This object was previously on display as a part of the exhibition Saturated: The Allure and Science of Color.

Short URL http://cprhw.tt/o/2C17t/
Accession Number 1936-31-1
Object ID 18340903