OUR YARNS
The inspiration for our skeins comes from People of Color
in historical manuscripts and paintings.
RENAISSANCE COLLECTION
This sumptuous red looks so luscious it can be described as tantalizing. The deepness of the red is given more depth with a touch of black which will add more dimension to your projects. The inspiration for this is from the 16th century artist Jan Jansc Mostaert and our inspiration in the painting may be Christopher le More.
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The painting is entitled "Portrait of an African Man." c. 1525-30. Used with permission.
This mustard yellow will work up gorgeously on its own or you can pair it up with greys, blues, reds and more. The inspiration for this deep mustard shade comes from the image of Yasuke who accompanied Italian missionaries who traveled to Japan. Yasuke became closely acquainted with a leading Japanese figure Oda Nobunaga, and Yasuke served as a retainer and weapon-bearer for Nobunaga. This mustard yellow is a strong statement, perfecftly reflecting what was probably the first known Black Samurai.
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The image comes from the Rinpa style ink-stone box (Suzuri-bako) from the 1590s. It is held in the Museo do Caramulo. Used with permission.
The light and airy powder blue is reminiscent of the attire of the figures in Jacob Claesz van Utrecht's Triptych image. These figures represent two helpers of Jesus, Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea, who assisted him during the crucifixion stage of his life. The soft blue will look wonderful on its own or paired with Blue Knight, greys or even, Pink Desert Moor or a soft yellow in Seafarerer's Sand in this collection.
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The full painting is from 1513 and entitled Triptych with the Deposition from the Cross. Used with permission.
This colorway is a soft blush pink with slight variation in the skein to give it depth and dimension. The inspiration comes from the Italian painter Jacopo Ligozzi entitled "Moor of Barbary". This soft pink would will work superbly with Balthazar's gift from the Medieval Collection or even soft blues, greys or teals from the 1700s collection.
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The sketch is held in The Uffiz,i, Department of Print and Drawings. Used with permission.
This light, sandy yellow color is for those who want a more muted but still vibrant yellow color. The inspiration were the tones of yellow and soft orange from this Black man's checkered outfit. He traveled great distances with the Portuguese to land in Japan where a Japanese artist painted this. The soft yellow will work up nicely on its own or pair it with John Blanke from the Medieval Collection or with greys or blues from the 1700s collection.
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This image is from a folding screen seal of Kano Naizen (1570-1616), c. 1606. You can find more info here.
The stunning deep grey is a perfect neutral color for any project. You can pair it with Zamor's silver colorway in the 1700s Collection or even match it up with some blues, reds, greens, pinks or yellows. This is a perfect neutral color and will work up gorgeously in sweaters and hats. Inspiration comes from St. Maurice's gorgeous deep silver armor.
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The manuscript image comesThe Pfirtsch Altar_ St. Maurice 1526 -30. Used with permission.
This jet black will go with any colorway and is a great neutral that will add depth to your projects. The lush and deep black is an essential neutral tone that will work so well on its own or mixed and matched with greys, warm or cool colors. Its rich and deep tone is inspired by Alessandro de'Medici (1510-1537) who was born to a Black mother, Simonetta da Collevecchio and his father was de facto ruler of the Florentine Republic, Lorenzo II de' Medici (1492-1519). Alessandro was the last Medici from the senior line of the family to lead Florence, and is known as arguably the first Black head of state in the West.
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The portrait of Alessandro de' Medici was painted between 1534-1535 by Italian painter Jacopo Pontormo. The image is in Philadelphia Museum of Art. Used with permission.
Inspired by a 17th-century Italian painting by Luca Giordano, this coastal-sea palette is a gorgeous medley of soft blues and greens. The sage and lichen blend, along with some delphine blue is softened with an overlay of grey. It has a very soothing cool look that is reminiscent of the sea. It's a gorgeous variegated look that will work great as tops, socks, hats, blankets and more. You can even pair it up with Lichen-Sage, Delphine Blue or other solid and tonal colorways.
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Image is open access. Painting by Luca Giordano. Saint Francis Xavier Baptizing Proselytes and Saint Francis Borgia, Italy (c. 1680s). Museo di Capodimonte, Naples.
Neutrals are so versatile. Here we have an intense terracotta-like brown with orange undertones that reflect the robe that adorns Don Francisco de Arobe. Francisco was an Afro-Indian governor in Ecuador who was painted along with two of his sons to pay homage to him for his support for Spanish rule in 1599. His beautiful orange and brown robe inspires this tonal colorway that you can use on its own or pair up with a deep orange, red, green, black or even a gradient Theban from the medieval collection. The pairings are endless to create your own masterpiece. You can read more about Francisco here.
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The portrait of Francisco comes from a larger painting entitled "The Mulatto Gentlemen of Esmeraldas" by Sánchez Gallque, Andrés, 1599. Madrid, ESP, Museo de América. Used with permission.
This colorway is exclusively made on a mernino/donegal (neon) yarn that has vibrant green, orange, yellow, and soft pink specks. The base color is a silvery grey that brings out the colorful specks but adds a neutral tone that will work great in lots of different projects from sweaters to hats, scarves, blankets and more. The blend is inspired by a gorgeous figure who is a steward hidden on the right of a 17th-century painting (c. 1687) by Italian painter Anton Domenico Gabbiani entitled "Portrait of Three Musicians of the Medici Court."
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Public Domain image: Portrait of Three Musicians of the Medici Court by Anton Domenico Gabbiani, c. 1687.
This pastel medley has splashes of light sapphire and teal with light smokey grey and a dash of pale pink. A versatile, variegated colorway that is perfect for every season. You can use it on its own or mix it with some dark or light neutrals for an eye-catching piece. The colorway is inspired by King Balthazar's image in a 17th-century Flemish painter, David Teniers II the Younger’s “Adoration of the Kings.”
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Sold to a private buyer. This figure is from 17th-century Flemish painter, David Teniers II the Younger’s “Adoration of the Kings.”
This beautiful softened turquoise has a slight teal tinge to it on one side of a skein and the other end is a soft tan. There is a light speckling of black and silver throughout just to give some dimension to your work. This beautiful colorway is based on Dom Francisco's son, Dom Pedro.
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The portrait of Pedro comes from a larger painting entitled "The Mulatto Gentlemen of Esmeraldas" by Sánchez Gallque, Andrés, 1599. Madrid, ESP, Museo de América. Used with permission.
This foresty green tonal solid is a rich and deep green based on a 16th-century banquet image depicting a feast with many figures of color around a table. This green is taken from the figure in green, a deep woodlands green that is a rich pine color. Unlike the emerald shade, this color is much deeper and has bluer undertones.
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Detail from the Gospel Lectionary of Herod's feast, Walters Manuscript W.535, fol. 159r from Walters Art Museum Illuminated Manuscripts. The manuscripts hand is Luke the Cypriot (1583-1625).
Based on a different Black figure at a feasting table that the colorway "Forest Feast" is from, this solid colorway is a deep and rich amethyst. The amethyst color is intensified and deepened to give you a richer color to work with. You can pair it up with some greys or other neutrals and it works gorgeously with navy and delphine blue. Have fun with this rich gemstone amethyst colorway that reflects the Black figure at a medieval feast!
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Detail from the Gospel Lectionary of Herod's feast, Walters Manuscript W.535, fol. 159r from Walters Art Museum Illuminated Manuscripts. The manuscripts hand is Luke the Cypriot (1583-1625).
Inspired by a 17th-century Dutch painting by Hendrik Heerschop, this golden tonal colorway has slight variation with an intense gold that has lighter and darker variation with a slight splash of light sandy brown. The colorway is based on a gorgeous painting of King Caspar, one of the Black kings said to have visited Jesus in the nativity story. This beautiful warm colorway is great on its own but would work wonderfully with other warm, cool or neutral tones. It matches perfectly with Louverture Sapphire, Alessandro Midnight Black, any grey tones, reds, browns and gradient blends. This is really one of those colors you can mix and match with just about anything!
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Painting by Hendrik Heerschop. Image in public domain but the original painting is in the Museum Kijker in the Netherlands.).
This colorway is based on a depiction of a popular figure in premodern art, the legendary St. Maurice. The colorway pulls together a deep silvery grey, malachite green, and fawn brown to create a cool variegated palette. The splashes of softened kelly green add a little pop of color amidst the greys and browns. It's a gorgeous blend that will work great as tops, socks, hats, blankets and more. The colorway reflects a fresh and bright woodland and would work well with a variety of solid and tonal colorways.
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Manuscript description: German School, 16th century. Now in a private collection. Sold 2021 at Bonhams.
The figure of inspiration here is wearing a teal top but because he's in shadow, his outfit has lots of aubergine to reflect that. His gaze is on the main figure in Peter Paul Rubens' 17th-century painting but we have made him the focal point and taken him out of the shadow. The colorway has whisps of deep aubergine on a tonal deep teal and grey base. It's a rich colorway that will work great for lots of projects, especially sweaters, hats, mittens and socks. You'll get gorgeous results with this deep colorway.
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Artist: Peter Paul Rubens, c. 1635. MS in Gemäldegalerie Alte Meister, Dresden. Image is public domain.
