The Battle of Fort Fisher, N.C.

Saturday, December 20, 2014

What the Well-Dressed Woman Wore-- Part 4: Between Mauve and Arsenic

By 1859, William Henry Perkin's new dye color was being called mauve in England and chemists later called it mauveine.  The color came into vogue in 1851, when Queen Victoria wore a mauve gown.

Another gown of Paris green is in the collection.  This dye was made of arsenic.  At the time the dress was made, the arsenic was stable, but caution is used in handling it today since current stability is not known.  I sure wouldn't touch it.

The exhibit ended at the end of August and an entrance fee of $5 was charged.

--Old Secesh Won't Wear That Green Dress.

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