Purple dye

There were few period sources for purple dye. Chief among the possible sources were shellfish purples (tyrian purple and kermes) which were bright dark purples (perhaps rather more reddish in tone than modern purples). Pale pink/mauve could be derived from lichen (orchil), which had better availability, but was less colourfast.

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See also:

• period brown.

Sources of period recipes for purple dyes

• A Profitable Booke, 1586