Treasures from the Sea

Purple Dye and Sea Silk

Nonfiction, Home & Garden, Crafts & Hobbies, Needlecrafts & Fabric, Weaving, Science & Nature, Technology, Textiles & Polymers, History, European General
Cover of the book Treasures from the Sea by Hedvig Landenius Enegren, Francesco Meo, Oxbow Books
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: Hedvig Landenius Enegren, Francesco Meo ISBN: 9781785704369
Publisher: Oxbow Books Publication: April 30, 2017
Imprint: Oxbow Books Language: English
Author: Hedvig Landenius Enegren, Francesco Meo
ISBN: 9781785704369
Publisher: Oxbow Books
Publication: April 30, 2017
Imprint: Oxbow Books
Language: English

Purple dye is extracted from the glands of the molluscs Hexaplex trunculus, Bolinus Brandaris and Stramonita Haemastoma which, through a chemical reaction of photosynthesis, produces hues ranging from dark red to bluish purple colour. The importance of purple dye since ancient times as a status symbol, a sign of royal and religious power is well documented. Less well known is sea silk, a precious fibre derived from the tufts of the pen shell, Pinna nobilis, a UNESCO protected species, with which the mollusc anchors itself to the seabed. These tufts, once cleaned and bleached, take the aspect of golden thread. Only a handful of artisans on Sardinia still have the knowledge of how to work these fibres, the knowledge having been transmitted orally for generations. In this new review of latest research, 17 papers concentrate on two marine resources used in ancient textile manufacture: shellfish purple dye and sea silk. Papers include the study of epigraphical and historical sources, practical experiments, as well as, highlighting the presence of purple dye in the Mediterranean area in the archaeological data and in new research contexts; linguistic issues pertaining to terminology, archaeological investigation, the study of the physical and chemical properties of sea silk and the step-by-step practical working of sea silk fibres. The comprehensive multifaceted overview makes this collection a valuable resource for anyone interested in ancient textiles, dyes and textile technology.

View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart

Purple dye is extracted from the glands of the molluscs Hexaplex trunculus, Bolinus Brandaris and Stramonita Haemastoma which, through a chemical reaction of photosynthesis, produces hues ranging from dark red to bluish purple colour. The importance of purple dye since ancient times as a status symbol, a sign of royal and religious power is well documented. Less well known is sea silk, a precious fibre derived from the tufts of the pen shell, Pinna nobilis, a UNESCO protected species, with which the mollusc anchors itself to the seabed. These tufts, once cleaned and bleached, take the aspect of golden thread. Only a handful of artisans on Sardinia still have the knowledge of how to work these fibres, the knowledge having been transmitted orally for generations. In this new review of latest research, 17 papers concentrate on two marine resources used in ancient textile manufacture: shellfish purple dye and sea silk. Papers include the study of epigraphical and historical sources, practical experiments, as well as, highlighting the presence of purple dye in the Mediterranean area in the archaeological data and in new research contexts; linguistic issues pertaining to terminology, archaeological investigation, the study of the physical and chemical properties of sea silk and the step-by-step practical working of sea silk fibres. The comprehensive multifaceted overview makes this collection a valuable resource for anyone interested in ancient textiles, dyes and textile technology.

More books from Oxbow Books

Cover of the book Wearing the Cloak by Hedvig Landenius Enegren, Francesco Meo
Cover of the book A Lake Dwelling in its Landscape by Hedvig Landenius Enegren, Francesco Meo
Cover of the book Care or Neglect? by Hedvig Landenius Enegren, Francesco Meo
Cover of the book Prehistoric rock art in Scandinavia by Hedvig Landenius Enegren, Francesco Meo
Cover of the book Textiles and the Medieval Economy by Hedvig Landenius Enegren, Francesco Meo
Cover of the book Places in Between by Hedvig Landenius Enegren, Francesco Meo
Cover of the book The Medieval Peasant House in Midland England by Hedvig Landenius Enegren, Francesco Meo
Cover of the book Segedunum by Hedvig Landenius Enegren, Francesco Meo
Cover of the book Children, Spaces and Identity by Hedvig Landenius Enegren, Francesco Meo
Cover of the book Danes in Wessex by Hedvig Landenius Enegren, Francesco Meo
Cover of the book Bosworth 1485 by Hedvig Landenius Enegren, Francesco Meo
Cover of the book Economy and Exchange in the East Mediterranean during Late Antiquity by Hedvig Landenius Enegren, Francesco Meo
Cover of the book Creating Material Worlds by Hedvig Landenius Enegren, Francesco Meo
Cover of the book Dress and Society by Hedvig Landenius Enegren, Francesco Meo
Cover of the book Winchester: Swithun’s ‘City of Happiness and Good Fortune’ by Hedvig Landenius Enegren, Francesco Meo
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy