Behind the Pages, Artisanal Thought and Knowledge Transmission in an 18th-Century Dyer’s Manuscript
Round 1
Reviewer 1 Report
Comments and Suggestions for AuthorsI have enjoyed reading this paper, reporting on a recent investigation of a 18th century dyer's manuscript from Antwerp. This is a truly fascinating subject highly relevant to researchers working in the field of dye analysis, craft and interpretation of written sources.
The article is very well written. Thanks to the authors for sharing their interpretation of this manuscript and for deciphering the hand writting of the dyer with his annotations and changes to the receipes, almost like a laboratory book (or a cooking journal!). The interpretations of some of the dyeing recipes, such tin mordanting processes or Saxon blue are very interesting in the field of dye analysis. The section with comparison with other contemporary sources is also insightful to provide parallel with Dyer's workshops from Lowland or other geographic locations.
I don't have any requests to change the manuscript. It is an excellent reading.
Author Response
Please see the attachment.
Author Response File: 
Author Response.pdf
Reviewer 2 Report
Comments and Suggestions for AuthorsThe subject of the study is an 18th century dyer's manuscript originating in Antwerp, that focuses on wool dyeing and mainly describes the use of red dyes. The very comprehensive analysis of the manuscript, which contains dye recipes, dyed textile samples as well as accounting records, and business correspondence, and the comparison with contemporary manuals provides valuable insights into craft knowledge evolution and its transmission in the historical context of European textile dyeing in the 18th century. However, a revision of the manuscript is necessary. Required revisions are mentioned below.
Pages 4-5, section 2: The following information is of interest and should be added: For how many recipes are there clearly assignable samples? How many samples cannot be clearly assigned to a recipe (loose samples)? Are further investigations planned, e.g. with regard to the dyestuff composition of the embedded samples?
Page 8, line 237: “…of the manuscript, This first attribution…“ The punctuation should be corrected.
Page 9, Figure 5: In what context was the ordinance to dye fire color published? Is the context known?
Page 11, caption: The numbering of the Figure is incorrect (“Figure 65“). The numbering of the Figures and the references in the text to the Figures should also be checked in the rest of the text.
Page 12, lines 389-390: “This specific recipe does not seem to have had a sample attached, …“ The sentence should be corrected.
Page 14, section 4.4: For future studies it would be interesting to reproduce some of the steps toward the evolution of the finalized recipe by means of practical dyeing studies and to compare the color samples obtained, e.g. with regard to wash and light fastness.
Page 16, line 535: What is meant by saey? The term should be explained.
Page 18, line 603: “Heb je deze niet gereconstrueerd? Zo ja kan je daar dan verschillen in zien?“ The translation is missing and the context is not clear.
Page 20, translation of the recipe at the top of the page: What is meant by “ras over den aspel“? The term should be explained.
Page 21, lines 668-670 : Where is a cost evaluation made in the section “Note, the Saxon color you can see here on the side does not change because I washed it with Spanish soap and boiling water, and nothing changed. But if you make the composition and mix it in your bottle, do it in open air, because the fumes coming out of it are poisonous“? How can this statement be used to estimate the size of the company?
Page 21, line 674: Please check the reference to the Figure. Figure 9 or 10?
Page 24, Figures 10 and 11: The text sections marked in Figures 10 and 11 are not legible. The text should also be translated. Or does the translation on page 23 (pp. 27, Other way to dye madder red, ”Antwerp manuscript”) refer to Figure 10 (To dye formal madder red, Antwerp manuscript, pp.67)? Why doesn't the page number match (pp. 27 and pp.67)? The assignment of the translations to the Figures is not clear.
Page 27, line 846: What is meant by “organically arranged“? The term should be explained.
Author Response
Please see the attachment.
Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
Reviewer 3 Report
Comments and Suggestions for AuthorsThe manuscript heritage-3647600, titled "Behind the pages, artisanal thought and knowledge transmission in an 18th-century dyer’s manuscript," was well-written and interestingly constructed.
It would be interesting to see a parallel analytical study of the textile to confirm the use or absence of the dyes and materials described in the text.
Author Response
Please see the attachment
Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
