I'm American, as well, and, like Patty, always thought of "ultramarine" as a slightly greenish darkish blue (like a bright navy with a hint of green to it). If I remember to put "aubergine" through my mental translation program, and think "oh, yeah...that's equivalent to eggplant," I wouldn't think of it as anything but a really strong, dark purple. Dunno about the generational thing--maybe the yahoos who are coming up with new names for next season's "in colors" are running out of ideas? ;o) --Sue
----- Original Message ----- From: "Rickard, Patty " <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "Historical Costume" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Friday, January 26, 2007 7:58 AM Subject: RE: [h-cost]Colour names, was Need Help > American here - ultramarine was strong darkish slightly greenish blue > for me -when I was a girl - maybe a generational, not national, thing? > > Patty > > -----Original Message----- > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > On Behalf Of Suzi Clarke > Sent: Friday, January 26, 2007 4:22 AM > To: Historical Costume > Subject: Re: [h-cost]Colour names, was Need Help > > At 09:06 26/01/2007, you wrote: > > > >Kate Bunting > >Librarian and 17th century reenactor > > > > >>> Lavolta Press <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> 26/01/2007 02:58 >>> wrote: > > >Bear in mind that the meanings of many Victorian color names changed > > >from fashion season to fashion season; and also, different, trendier > > >names were often applied to the same old colors. > > > >I find this is still true. Here in the UK "aubergine" is usually a dark > >purple (the colour of what you Americans call eggplants), but in a > >recent catalogue I've seen the name applied to a lighter > >pinkish-purple. > > I was buying cotton thread yesterday, and the "mauve/purple/paler > aubergine" thread was called "Ultramarine." Now when I was a girl, as > they say, ultramarine was a strong darkish bright blue. My American > companion said that the purple-ish colour was a colour/name > association she knew - I didn't! > > Suzi _______________________________________________ h-costume mailing list h-costume@mail.indra.com http://mail.indra.com/mailman/listinfo/h-costume
