Lebende Farben

Pilzverfärbtes Holz als dekoratives Gestaltungsmittel in kunsthandwerklichen Objekten vom 15. Jahrhundert bis zur Gegenwart

Abstract

Living Colours – Wood Decolourated by Fungus as a Decorative Design Media for Craftwork Objects from the 15th Century to this Day

Intarsia artists and woodworkers made use of wood colours and textures beyond those found in nature. Wood with variation in colour and structure caused by fungus attack was also used, however, only if its firmness had suffered insignificantly. The blue-green discolouration by the fungus Chlorociboria is well-known. This paper summarises the five century long use of wood thus modified, the history of the research into the colourant Xylindein, and the reasons for appreciating this kind of wood. Examples are given. In addition, blue-green discolouration caused by other kinds of fungus was found in relief intarsia from Eger and in other craftwork to this day. Discolouration by Fistulina hepatica staining oak wood brown, is found in Italian intarsia work from the early renaissance and also in modern design furniture. Distinctive borderlines and pale areas are typical features of “marble rot”, caused by white rot fungi and was used already in the 16th century for special effects. Wood with foxing marks (“spalted wood”) is a sought-after material for today’s wood designers and an object of study for scientists.