Dyeing wool and sea silk with purple pigment from Hexaplex trunculus
Kanold, I.B. (2017). Dyeing wool and sea silk with purple pigment from Hexaplex trunculus, in: Enegren, H.L. et al. (Ed.) Treasures from the sea: sea silk and shellfish purple dye in antiquity. Ancient Textiles Series , 30: pp. 67-72
In: Enegren, H.L.; Meo, F. (Ed.) (2017). Treasures from the sea: Sea silk and shellfish purple dye in antiquity. Ancient Textiles Series, 30. Oxbow Books: Oxford & Philadelphia. ISBN 978-1-78570-435-2. 158 pp., more
In: Ancient Textiles Series . Oxbow Books: Oxford, more
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| Abstract |
Shellfish purple – or Tyrian purple as the ancients called it – has a history almost 4000 years old. The colour ranges from purplish-red, or fresh dryed blood according to Pliny, to all shades of violet up to blue. Purple derives from different species of molluscs living in rather warm oceans all over the world. In antiquity though, mainly the Mediterranean Sea provided this precious dye for the robes of the elite. Throughout several millennia, purple was known as a dyer’s colour and the pigment, the dry powder, available only as a result or by-product of a dyeing bath. |
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