HOW THE CORONATION COLOURS ARE NAMED

Northern Advocate, 1 December 1936, Page 8

HOW THE CORONATION COLOURS ARE NAMED

In sponsoring colours for the Coronation, the British Colour Council took into consideration not only the historical associations of the colours, but also their usefulness for contemporary needs, writes the “Post’s” London representative. The four pastel colours are named after Royal residences. Marlborough Blue is named after Marlborough House. Queen Mary s interest in all forms of fine art and in the application of art to industry is well known, particularly as evidenced by her annual visits tii the British Industries Pair. The colour illustrated is a pale forget-me-not and one which should find special favour in Coronation year.

Holyrood Green. Holyrood Green, named after the Scottish palace, shows another delicate pastel, paler far than duck egg.. This colour has been used from earliest times in decorative art, particularly in glassware, pottery, and enamel. Buckingham Lilac takes its name from His Majesty’s residence. This colour has particularly interesting historical associations. It was used in the early middle ages in the production of the Aubusson Tapestries. It was from this workshop that the tapestries were made for Rheims Cathedral. * During the 18th century the colour was freely used by such painters as Fragonard, Boucher, and Lancret, who also produced designs for the clothes worn at the French Courts.' From there Court fashions spread to other European capitals, and thus the colour came to be used by the “bucks” of the Regency period.

St. James Rose,

St. James’ Hose is taken from the “one-and-only” St. James, of historical memory. The colour suggests the faded Vieux Rose of the period gowns worn in the romantic periods of bygone days. It is similar to a rose colour used in the Aubusson Tapestries and was adapted for use in various decorative arts in the same way as the lilac already described. Coronation Red is a tone which rightly comes under the heading of Crimson. Originally and for a long time it meant solely a bluish red dye derived from the Kermes insect. The colour was used by the Hebrews a\id all races of the Orient and has at all times been associated with high rank and ceremony. The rich brocades of the Medicis and the crimson of ecclesiastic robes recall its use in Gothic and Renaissance times, while throughout later European history it has held an important place in ceremonial dress and decoration. It is used today as the official crimson of the British Army. Coronation Blue. Coronation Blue is slightly different from the actual blue of the lapis lazuli from which ultramarine was derived. It is found in brocades and robes of the East as well as in mosaics and ceramics and rich stained glass windows. It was a favourite colour of many famous painters of early schools. To Britain its national significance is that it is the‘'authentic “true” blue of the British flag and the Royal Blue of Admiralty bunting. Coronation Gold is a lovely soft tone, like ripening corn. Gold and yellow are the most luminous of colours, and being the colours of the sun, carry the attendant attributes of splendour and radiance. Yellow was to the ancients the greatest of all colours, since it denoted that the wearer was a “son of the Sun,” and the wearing of gold or yellow was always a sign of high rank. Coronation Gold is the tone found in some of the finest works of art from Persia and China. Significance of Green. Later in European art it was often used in woven and embroidered fabrics and is also found in Majolica ware. Gold and yellow are often considered difficult colours to wear, but Coronation Gold has a softened quality which makes it generally becoming and adaptable to many purposes. Green has always had a special significance for the people of the East. The commonest colour in Nature, green has for centuries been associated with tranquility and long life. In Europe green became one of the seven colours associated with heraldrj'-, and the colour selected for 1937 is dyed to the original Vert used in the science of heraldry in Britain from the 13th century.