Color in Elizabethan Dress
This list of cloth colors used throughout the 16th and early 17th century
was compiled by Penny Ladnier (penny.creative.outlets@erols.com),
and is excerpted
from her paper Color Names Throughout the Centuries. Visit her
The Costume Gallery's Online Library for more great costume info.
1500-1580
Documented in: Costume in England: A History of Dress
Bristol Red: Red used for garments.
Lincoln Green: Color used by archers, also named after the town, Lincoln
where it originated.
Yellow: Used for mourning.
Russet: 1512, Reddish brown or grey worn by countrymen.
Ash: 1518, Used for gowns and kirtles.
Rat's Colour: 1518, Dull grey, worn by poor people.
Puke: 1522, Dirty Brown.
Popingay Green: 1522, Blue-green.
Light Tawney: 1522, Light yellowish tan.
REDDS, PINK, CROYDE, MOSTYNS, BROWN-BLUE, LIGHT GREYE, FRIAR COLOUR,
LONG FINE BLUE: All color names used 1522 but more information is needed
on them.
Documented in "Costume in the Drama of Shakespear and His Contemparies":
The following colors were the only colours made in England, during one
time in the year 1522 by the order of King Edward VI.
Scarlet: Red
Crimson: Red
Murrey: Mulberry colour
Sheep's Colour: Natural
Puke: Dirty Brown
Orange-Tawney: Worn often in plays.
Watchet: Blue
Lion's Colour: Tawney, yellowish tan
Marble, Sad New Colour, Motley, and Iron Grey were also documented on
the list, but are in need of more research.
This is a group of King Edward's VI favorite colors, all from 1547-53:
Incarnate: Red
Carnation: Resembling the colour Raw Flesh
Blod, Turkey, and Sea-Water are color names documented in need of more research.
This is a group of Mary Tudor's favorite color's names used in 1554:
Ruby, Crane, and Old Medley are documented and in need of more research.
Other color names used during the period:
Gooseturd Green: 1577, Yellowish green.
The Devil in the Head: 1577, Also called Hedge.
Whey: 1553, Pale bluish colour.
Coleur de Roy: 1531, Bright Tawney color worn by the officials and
servants of the King of Scotland.
PEASE-PORRIGE TAWNIE, POPONGAIE BLUE, LUSTIE GALLANT and BISCAYE are
all documented in the year 1577, but are in need of more research.
1580-1620
Documented in "Elizabethan Costumes from 1550-1580"
Bristol Red: A "pleasant" red.
Cane Color: Yellowish tint.
Carnation: Resembling raw flesh
Crane Colour: Greyish white
Dead Spaniard: Pale greyish tan
Gingerline: 1595, Reddish violet
Goose-Turd: Yellowish green
Hair: Bright tan
Incarnate: Red
Isabella: Light buff
Lincoln Green: Bright Green
Lustie-Gallant: Light Red
Maiden Hair: 1605, Bright tan
Milk and Water: Bluish white
Murrey: Purplish red
Orange Tawney: Orangish brown
Peach: Deep pinkish orange
Plunket: Light blue
Popinjay: Bluish Green
Primrose: 1597, Pale yellow
Puke: Dirty Brown
Rat's Color: Dull grey
Sangyn: Blood red
Sheep's Color: Natural
Strammel: 1575, Red
Straw: 1578, Light Yellow
Tawney: Brown tinged with yellow
Watchet: Pale greenish blue
Whey: Pale whitish blue
Willow: Light green
Other color names used needing further research from this period:
DOVE-GREY, PANSY, SCRATCH FACE, VERDIGRIS, DAWN, WATER-COLOR, BEANS-BLUE,
APE'S LAUGH, CRISTALLINE, SMOKED OX, TRISTAMI, FLOWERING RYE, FADING
FLOWER, GOSLING GREEN, CANARY, ARGENTINE, MERRY WIDOW, RESURRECTION,
KISS-ME-DARLING, CHIMNEY-SWEEP, AMARANTH, FLAX-BLUE, BOTTLE GREEN,
JUDAS-COLOR, OX-BLOOD, DYING MONKEY, BROWN BREAD, MORTAL SIN, HAM-COLOR,
and LOVE-LONGING.
Documented in "Costume in England: A History of Dress"
Coventry Blue: Very popular color during Elizabeth's reign
Documented in "Costume in the Drama of Shakespear and His Contemparies":
Copyright Notice
"Permission is given to copy and freely distribute this list as long
as this header remains intact. No warrenty expressed or implied."
(c) Penny E. Ladnier
Send updates, corrections, additions and comments to me:
penny.creative.outlets@erols.com
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