Universal analytical method for characterization of yellow and related natural dyes in liturgical vestments from Krakow

•The universal HPLC–UV–Vis–ESI MS/MS method includes 116 natural colorants.•A phenyl column is useful in separation of complex mixtures of colorants.•The 54 commercially unavailable markers from 10 dyes were identified using MS/MS.•MS/MS enables identification of yellow and related dyes in historical vestments.•Annatto and sawwort were found using MS/MS detection in historical textiles.