I never saw a Purple Cow, 

I never hope to see one; 

But I can tell you, anyhow, 

I’d rather see than be one.

This poem by Burgess was written in the late 1800’s and he became somewhat exasperated with the success of his poem, of which he was constantly reminded. A few years later, he penned a riposte that became almost as well known as the original. 

Ah, yes, I wrote the “Purple Cow”-

I’m Sorry, now, I wrote it;
But I can tell you Anyhow

I’ll Kill you if you Quote it! 

 

HISTORICALLY SPEAKING!

The Color purple is one of the oldest recorded colors ever used, dating back tens of thousand of years BC used on walls in prehistoric art found on cave walls using manganese and hematite powder.

In the laters years  of the 1500 BC, citizens of the ancient cities of Sidon and Tyre which is presently known as Lebanon found a snail called the spiny dye murex.  The process of making the dye was long, difficult and expensive.  Thousands of the tiny snails had to be found, their shells cracked, the snail removed. Mountains of empty shells have been found at the ancient sites of Sidon and Tyre. The snails were left to soak, then a tiny gland was removed and the juice extracted and put in a basin, which was placed in the sunlight. There a remarkable transformation took place.

In the sunlight the juice turned white, then yellow-green, then green, then violet, then a red which turned darker and darker. The process had to be stopped at exactly the right time to obtain the desired color, which could range from a bright crimson to a dark purple, the color of dried blood. Then either wool, linen or silk would be dyed. The exact hue varied between crimson and violet, but it was always rich, bright and lasting.

Hence only that of Royalty and people of Deity had the opportunity to own cloth of purple.

 

 

COLOR OF THE YEAR FOR 2014!  

RADIANT ORCHID

 

About the PANTONE Color of the Year The color of the year selection requires careful consideration and, to arrive at the selection, Pantone quite literally combs the world looking for color influences. This can include the entertainment industry and films that are in

 production, traveling art collections, hot new artists, popular travel destinations and other socio-economic conditions. Influences may also stem from technology, availability of new textures and effects that impact color, and even upcoming sports events that capture worldwide attention.

So WHO IS THE PURPLE COW IN THE ROOM?

 To be magnificent , special and to stand apart from the rest: to be the purple cow can be a good thing for business and setting one self apart from the pack!

So maybe

you might just rather be one, than stand by and just see one!

Hope you enjoyed tidbits about the color purple! There is a lot of color theory, emotional ties and altered senses that are triggered by the color purple as all colors. However I heard enough razzle dazzle about the new color off the year from all of our travelling sales reps of fabrics, rugs and furniture that I thought it would fun to share it with you.  Let me be the first to know if you decide to stay in fashion and want perhaps a purple settee to match your royal gown!