Is black leather thong authentic of the Saxon period, if so how did they make it black. serious answers!?
I am a reenactor of the saxon period and have been told that black thong is not possable for the time but i have my doubts, i need to know how its manafactor may have been possable and even better provdence for its use. As much infomation as you can would be very welcome please
To quote from the Regia Anglorum Members' Handbook,
"Black leather or fabric of any description must be avoided. Whilst there are written references to the colour black, it was not the dense, dark colour we now call black. The black of the time seems to have been what we would now call dark brown or dark grey. The only way of producing a dense fade proof black was by multiple dippings in expensive, imported dyestuffs - it is therefore a colour reserved only for the wealthy."
And if somebody was wealthy enough to afford black, they'd show it off - leather thonging just wouldn't be noticeable enough, so wouldn't be worth the effort.
The lichen Clavophora rupestris will give you a medium grey; bladderwrack, weld with iron, and weld with sorrel root will give you reasonably dark browns - repeated overdyeing with any of these could get you something that passes for black in poor lighting, but that would take a lot of effort, be only for the rich, and not be truly black.
Iris roots are rumoured to give dark grey to black shades on wool, and I've heard much the same thing about inkcaps. In the Highlands, oak bark, hawthorn bark, alder bark, or the roots of the dock plant (all of these mordanted with iron) are still used in traditional hedgerow dyeing to get shades approaching black.
So black thonging is possible - just not true black, not commonly, and it probably wasn't worth the effort. I'd recommend using undyed thonging; it's good for all social rankings of the Dark Ages, and there's plenty of evidence for it.
 |
 AUTHENTIC CHANEL BLACK PATENT LEATHER GOLD PLATED CLASSIC DOUBLE FLAP HANDBAG $1,699.99 Time Remaining: 31m Buy It Now for only: $1,699.99 |
 Prada Tessuto Pietre Tote Handbag Purse Authenticity Certificate Made in Italy $799.99 Time Remaining: 31m |
 Authentic Dooney and Bourke Black Pebbled Leather Hobo Sac Medium $109.99 Time Remaining: 33m |
 Authentic Lot Brighton Black Leather Handbag Wallets Coin Cases 5 items $54.00 (9 Bids) Time Remaining: 33m |
 Authentic Coach 19404M Op Art Sateen Gallery Black Tote Handbag MSRP 228 $112.49 (2 Bids) Time Remaining: 34m |
 Authentic COACH Signature Metallic Flap Purse Snake Khaki BZ 8K38 $35.95 Time Remaining: 39m Buy It Now for only: $35.95 |
 Authentic Prada Sport Tessuto Sling Backpack Style Handbag $199.99 Time Remaining: 39m |
 Authentic Fendi Zucca Hobo Handbag $199.99 Time Remaining: 39m |
 AUTHENTIC CHANEL CERF EXECUTIVE TOTE IN BLACK CAVIAR LEATHER Hand Bag Purse $1,875.00 (9 Bids) Time Remaining: 40m |
 NEW SUSAN FARBER AUTHENTIC GENUINE PATENT LEATHER BLACK BOW BAG PURSE ITALY $89.99 Time Remaining: 40m Buy It Now for only: $109.99 |
 Authentic Gucci Handbag Satchel $149.99 Time Remaining: 41m |
 AUTHENTIC GUCCI GG MONOGRAM RED GREEN WEB HOBO JACKIE O BOUVIER HOBO BAG XCLNT $349.99 (1 Bid) Time Remaining: 41m |
 AUTHENTIC COACH NAVY BLUE BLACK EXTRA LARGE HANDBAG $69.99 Time Remaining: 41m |
 AUTHENTIC KATE SPADE BLACK NYLON SHOULDER TOTE BAG $45.00 (3 Bids) Time Remaining: 41m |
 AUTHENTIC FENDI FF SIGNATURE MAMMA FOREVER ZUCHA HOBO BAG $249.99 Time Remaining: 41m |
 AUTHENTIC KATE SPADE BLACK NYLON extra large SHOULDER TOTE BAG $44.99 Time Remaining: 41m |
 NEW NWT Authentic Kate Spade Alpine Hills Lydia Bucket Purse Bag Black $105.00 Time Remaining: 41m Buy It Now for only: $105.00 |
 Authentic Brahmin Collette Tote Twilight Melbourne Matching Checkbook Wallet $299.99 Time Remaining: 42m |
 Authentic Dooney Bourke East West Collins Shoulder Bag Handbag New W Tags $159.99 Time Remaining: 42m |
 Authentic UGG Australia Mini Shoulder Bag Black New W Tag $49.99 Time Remaining: 42m |
 Authentic UGG Australia Mini Shoulder Bag Black New W Tag WOW $49.99 Time Remaining: 42m |
 Authentic Brahmin Arno Tote Twilight Melbourne Matching Checkbook Wallet NWT $299.99 Time Remaining: 42m |
 Coach large authentic soho hobo $80.00 Time Remaining: 42m Buy It Now for only: $110.00 |
 New with Tag MONDANI Mara Croco HoBo Leather HandBag Authentic $29.99 Time Remaining: 42m Buy It Now for only: $48.99 |
 Authentic Coach Leather Bucket Shoulder Bag $145.00 Time Remaining: 43m |
 Authentic COACH Signature Lexi F18828 NWT $138.00 (22 Bids) Time Remaining: 43m |
 AUTHENTIC VINCE CAMUTO BLACK LEATHER TIA SATCHEL MSRP19800 $89.95 Time Remaining: 44m |
 Authentic Black Prada Leather and Lizard trimmed handbag $399.00 Time Remaining: 44m |
 Authentic BCBG MAX AZRIA Black Pebble Leather HANDBAG PURSE Satchel Cross body $45.00 Time Remaining: 44m Buy It Now for only: $85.00 |
 AUTHENTIC LOUIS VUITTON LV EPI POCHETTE BAG BLACK MINT LN 550 NR GUAR AUTH $310.00 (21 Bids) Time Remaining: 45m |
 Authentic MARC JACOBS StamQUILTED Satchel w gold chain BLACK leather Purse BIG $650.00 Time Remaining: 45m Buy It Now for only: $650.00 |
 GUESS 100 AUTHENTIC COCONUT GROVE QUILTED SHOULDER BAGAWESOME VALUE 125 WOW $79.99 Time Remaining: 46m |
 GUESS 100 AUTHENTIC AALIYAH SHOULDER BAGAWESOME VALUE 120 WOW $59.99 Time Remaining: 47m |
 Authentic Fossil Black Pebbled Leather Satchel Shoulder Bag Handbag Purse w Key $22.50 (6 Bids) Time Remaining: 48m |
 Authentic Coach 7411 Black Twill Leather Shoulder Bag Tote Purse Handbag EUC $28.50 (8 Bids) Time Remaining: 48m |
 100 Authentic Coach Shoulder Bag $5.00 (1 Bid) Time Remaining: 49m |
 Authentic Coach Hampton Carry All F13084 Black Pebble Leather $69.00 (1 Bid) Time Remaining: 50m |
 COACH authentic BLACK LEATHER MEDIUM CROSS BODY HIPSTER FLAT PURSE HANDBAG $24.99 Time Remaining: 51m |
 Authentic Prada Black Satin Satchel Shoulder Bag Purse Handbag Flap Pockets $99.99 (1 Bid) Time Remaining: 51m |
 Authentic Black PRADA Canvas Leather drawstring Shoulder bag in Mint Condition $150.00 Time Remaining: 53m |
 CHANEL CLUTCH PURSE TAGS ON FINE SOFT CALF LEATHER BLACK AUTHENTIC HOLOGRAM $998.00 Time Remaining: 54m Buy It Now for only: $998.00 |
 Gorgeous authentic GUCCI hobo purse serial 0013778 002046 $81.00 (5 Bids) Time Remaining: 55m |
 Authentic Lancel Black Leather Purse $305.00 Time Remaining: 55m Buy It Now for only: $370.00 |
 Tommy Hilfiger Authentic handbag tote NEW w tags Retail 8500 black w white $59.99 Time Remaining: 56m |
 Authentic Prada Black Vitello Daino Antik Side Pocket Hobo $679.00 Time Remaining: 56m Buy It Now for only: $679.00 |
 GUESS 100 AUTHENTIC ANNETTE X BODY WONDERFUL 78 WOW $39.99 Time Remaining: 58m |
 Authentic COACH Black LEATHER Modern Day HANDBAG Boho $75.00 Time Remaining: 1h |
 GUESS 100 AUTHENTIC ACACIA SHOULDER BAGAWESOME VALUE 135 WOW $69.99 Time Remaining: 1h 1m |
 Used Black Gucci Jockey Bag Authentic $252.49 (2 Bids) Time Remaining: 1h 1m |
 AUTHENTIC SALVATORE FERRAGAMO HANDBAG PURSE USED MADE IN ITALY $119.00 Time Remaining: 1h 2m Buy It Now for only: $119.00 |
 Authentic Coach Signature Satchel Purse w Gift Receip Tissue F16542 ON SALE $149.99 Time Remaining: 1h 3m Buy It Now for only: $165.00 |
 NEW WT COACH Black Pebbled Leather Duffle Shoulder Bag F15064 Authentic $124.98 Time Remaining: 1h 6m |
 Authentic Coach wallet in black leather $9.00 Time Remaining: 1h 6m |
 TORY BURCH AUTHENTIC DENA BLACK LEATHER TOTE BAG $300.00 Time Remaining: 1h 7m Buy It Now for only: $300.00 |
 Authentic Coach handbag purse messenger style bag in black leather $31.01 (4 Bids) Time Remaining: 1h 8m |
 WOMENS AUTHENTIC TIGNANELLO LEATHER SATCHEL BAG HANDBAG BEAUTIFUL $24.99 (1 Bid) Time Remaining: 1h 8m |
 GUESS 100 AUTHENTIC DESSERT SHOULDER BAGAWESOME VALUE 120 WOW $79.99 Time Remaining: 1h 9m |
 Authentic Jean Paul Gaultier black leather handbag $45.66 (12 Bids) Time Remaining: 1h 10m |