kermes

Kermes is a historical crimson dye obtained from the dried bodies of female scale insects of the genus Kermes, most notably Kermes vermilio. Native to the Mediterranean region, these insects feed on oak trees, and their pigment has been used for textiles, illuminated manuscripts, and other decorative arts since antiquity. The dye is valued for producing a warm, deep red color that predates the later prominence of cochineal dyes.

The production of kermes involves harvesting the female insects, drying them, and then crushing or processing them to extract the pigment. The resulting color pigment was widely traded in ancient and medieval times and remained important in various cultures for centuries. The term “kermes” also became associated with the color itself, often described as a rich crimson.

Historically, kermes dye played a significant role in the textile industries of Europe, the Near East, and parts of Asia. It gradually declined after the introduction of cochineal dye from the Americas in the 16th century and the later development of synthetic dyes, which offered cheaper production and greater colorfastness. Today, kermes is primarily of historical and artisanal interest, studied for its cultural and economic significance in premodern dye trades.

Taxonomically, the dye is linked to scale insects in the family Kermesidae, with Kermes vermilio among the best-known sources. The term has also influenced the naming of the color crimson in historical texts and languages.