-----Original Message-----From Abel, Cynthia
Snipped:
The excellent biography Pocahontas and the Powhatan Dilemma only says that
Pocahontas' wedding ensemble was imported from England and her father sent
her a necklace of pearls. The 12th Night gown isn't described either.
I'm guessing the pearls were freshwater, but have no idea as to the length
or color of the necklace (white, natural, pink, grey, and mixed?) Does
anyone on the list know what pearls (white beads were worn, I know) a
Powhatan "noble" woman would wear.
I grew up in Gloucester County, VA and Elementary school was a mile
from the location of Powhatan village, so I am pretty sure that the would
have been Saltwater Pearls. But considering the scale of a doll to adult,
the freshwater ones should work well. On color, I would go with what works
best for the outfit.
Also I'm thinking of adding a white Jacobean surcoat, but made of white
feathers. I know from the biog that Powhatan's wives were recorded as
wearing blue feather capes, made so densely, that one Englishman recorded
them as appearing more of satin than feathers, but have no idea
as of type of feather or shade of blue.
Many thanks for any help.
Cindy Abel
On the research I have done on time period, I do not feel that the
Europeans would have appreciated ANY native elements in dress (except the
Pearls:-)). Most Europeans believed that they were civilizing the natives,
and could not appreciate the culture.
Dinah Tackett
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