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Author Topic: Black Chausses Charles I Member Member # 751 posted 11-10-2005 10:04 PM                Would it be acceptable for me to have black wool chausses in the later 14th century? I have a pair of rust colored linen ones from HE and now I find myself wanting wool. I thought black would look really nice but I am not sure if it could be attained at that time. I am also thinking they would look like black spandex... -------------------- In every life some rain must fall... Registered: Feb 2005  |  IP: Logged Jeff Johnson Member Member # 22 posted 11-14-2005 01:33 PM                   Whether you would wear black depends on how wealthy you are. Generally, black wool was an expensive fabric, obtained from multiple dyings of the cloth in different colors. Even then, what we modernly think of as black is hard to attain and maintain with what we know of period dyes. Even the best quality dyed blacks probably tended to look like a dark dark green or blue. [ 11-14-2005: Message edited by: Jeff Johnson ] -------------------- Geoffrey Bourrette Man At Arms Registered: May 2000  |  IP: Logged Gwen Member Member # 126 posted 11-14-2005 03:49 PM                   ...at the same time, a cheap black could be dyed using inexpensive domestic dystuffs like oak galls and chips and iron oxide. This tended to fade fairly quickly, especially the latter, which yielded a "rusty" colour. Iron oxide was used as a dye right up until the middle of the 19th C. and the advent of analine dyes. One can still find references to "rusty" coloured overcoats belonging to poor people in Dickens. I believe Fagin's coat is so described in "Oliver Twist". Also don't discount garments made from the wool of black sheep. Dark to true back and fadeproof. Gwen Registered: Feb 2001  |  IP: Logged John McFarlin Member Member # 564 posted 11-16-2005 01:16 AM                That's what I am going for in a hood made by Tasha McGann. Black wool. John Jehan de Pelham, esquire (www.mron.org) Jehan de Pelham, esquire and servant of Sir Vitus Registered: Feb 2004  |  IP: Logged

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