An old piece in modern colours

[figheadair]

Apologies if this has been discussed in the past...

When I discovered Gloria Holmes' products, I was introduced to the color described as 'woad.' I was completely ignorant if this word and its subject. It took a few back and forth emails and pictures, and I still may not have a firm grasp on its home in the spectrum. If you have the time, could you share the knowledge you have of this color, and perhaps its origin story?

Woad is not a colour per se but a dyestuff that contains indigotin, the actove ingredient as indigo although tne two species are not related. The dye exraction process for Woad is similar to indigo and it will give a range of blues from pale to navy. Pound for pound woad is not as strong as indigo, as a result the latter was preferred for dyeing. But from a technical perpective it is al but impossible to tell the two apart chemically.

Of note: rubbing woad on one's skin (the Picts) will not result in a true blue colour. It does apartently have some medicinal properties for wounds which may have been the basis for the story of the Picts/Celts/Britons etc using it..

[Profane James]

Understood, thank you!