Re: Sumptuary Laws

[Heather Swann <heather@pop.net>]

Poster: Heather Swann <heather@pop.net>

If I recall correctly, in period, it was the Byzantine Emperor's family who held
the rights to Imperial Purple and controlled to whom it was sold.  I think at
various times you could pay an outrageous fee for special permission to wear it
as well.

Miri


> In a message dated 98-10-19 09:15:22 EDT, nancyad@mindspring.com writes:
>
> << In period, purple dye was very rare and costly (from a sea shell???).  So
> few could afford it. >>
>
> Right. The "Tyran purple" was indeed made from a sea shell.  It produces a
> color more like a deep red than what we would think of as purple . ..
>
> << Additionally, in some places and times, in period, there were sumptuary
> laws restricting who could wear purple. Usually only royalty(?)  >>
>
> Right again.  Such sumptuary laws did exist, but as you also say, the SCA has
> no such sumptuaries, and I doubt that any kingdom does, either .
>
> ~Donal Mac Ruiseart
>



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