15th Century

COMMENTS: The second volume is a hefty collection of pictures. Most are in color, and the majority are from between 1300 and 1650. There are some earlier pieces included. The pictures are very high quality. The first volume is only text. A nice source of first-hand sources.

COMMENTS: This oversized book has simple pictures redrawn from 1st hand sources. It does cite all original sources. The period ranges from the 13th to later centuries. The costume drawings are rather crude, and focus mainly on nobility, but the author has gone out of his way to specially show accessories such as fastenings and pouches. The armor and weapons section is better-drawn, and it even has a large section on horses. Oddities include a section on period wagons, as well as objects such as baskets, fences, tents, and sundry.

COMMENTS: Unlike many other books, this one focuses soley on England. It fully encompasses the time period it claims to. The book is split into reigns; for each king, it has a set of black-and-white sketchs and a itemized list of fashions. Men's and women's costume is covered equally, a rarity in books. Unfortunately, the book mostly has pictures of the higher classes, although it does show a few pictures of the lower class, and it mentions lower-class fashions in each reign.

COMMENTS: Hidden among books on cement chemicals, this strange book hides in the engineering library. It is printed on weird paper. It contains a facsimile copy of the original Italian text, with corresponding eye-mangling font, as well as a full translation, in the same font. The original was the first book on dyes to be published. Dyeing methods had previously been well-kept secrets. It is rather late, but is the earliest such source available. For practical purposes, you would be better off with a modern book, but for historical information, it is much more useful.

COMMENTS: This book is full of wonderfully drawn pictures of natural dye plants. It contains a brief summary of the history and nature of the plant, as well as vague suggestions for its use. It does have sample colors with different mordants. A general dyeing guide it is not, but it is a beautiful resource with a wider range than many other books on this subject.

COMMENTS: Lots of archeological objects, analyzed in a rather dry fashion, but with lots of details. Includes buttons, game pieces, everyday objects, construction techniques, etc, up thru the 16th cent.

Only a brief amount of material on pre-1500 hose, but there are pictures of 14th and 15th cent. knit gloves, and a discussion of early knitting.

COMMENTS: Good for a general overview of fashion, with increasing information for later centuries, focuses on the upper classes. Some pictures of archeological items, some figures redrawn from paintings, some paintings.

COMMENTS: Cartoonish drawings of peasants for various centuries and locations. Very little discussion of material or lists of references, of dubios accuracy and use.

COMMENTS: Lots of colour photos and good description. Detailed photos and descriptions of how the technique of each was accomplished and it's subsequent changes during later years.

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