The foil on the backs of the diamonds was apparently black or blackened on purpose. This usage led to an old costume myth that the Elizabethans didn't care for diamonds. What's true is that they liked colored stones, and the backing on the diamonds was apparently a way to provide more color--also more flash, since the cut stones didn't have nearly as many facets to catch the light as they do now--in a world lit only by fire.
I've never heard anyone suggest they are tarnished silver. MaggiRos Maggie Secara ~A Compendium of Common Knowledge 1558-1603 Available at your favorite online bookseller See our gallery at http://www.zazzle.com/popinjaypress On Tue, Jun 16, 2009 at 12:22 PM, otsisto <[email protected]> wrote: > > > If the foil on the back of the diamonds are silver, then one needs to take > into account that the ones in the VA have tarnished over the years. > To my understanding, black diamonds are post 1600. > > De > > > _______________________________________________ h-costume mailing list [email protected] http://mail.indra.com/mailman/listinfo/h-costume
