Blood of nightingales
November 15, 2012 7:13 AM Subscribe
What is blood of nightingales dye and/or carpet pattern?
It's mentioned in Greer Gilman's Moonwise: "Here was the
keeping-room, with its wide cracked boards and blood-of-nightingales
scabrous rug".
I've googled and a friend checked the OED, and nothing has turned up.
It's mentioned in Greer Gilman's Moonwise: "Here was the
keeping-room, with its wide cracked boards and blood-of-nightingales
scabrous rug".
I've googled and a friend checked the OED, and nothing has turned up.
I'm going to say a type of Persian rug.
"The ancient Persians explained the appearance of red roses with a legend of a nightingale who loved the white rose. When Allah named the rose the "Queen Flowers", the impulsive bird flew down to embrace her and was pierced by her thorns. From the drops of the nightingale's blood, red roses grew."
posted by Marie Mon Dieu at 7:29 AM on November 15, 2012 [3 favorites]
"The ancient Persians explained the appearance of red roses with a legend of a nightingale who loved the white rose. When Allah named the rose the "Queen Flowers", the impulsive bird flew down to embrace her and was pierced by her thorns. From the drops of the nightingale's blood, red roses grew."
posted by Marie Mon Dieu at 7:29 AM on November 15, 2012 [3 favorites]
Response by poster: Marie, thanks-- it's at least plausible, and the rugs were worth seeing.
posted by Nancy Lebovitz at 2:20 AM on November 16, 2012
posted by Nancy Lebovitz at 2:20 AM on November 16, 2012
Mod note: Final update from the OP:
I talked with Gilman. The blood-of-nightingales rug was something she made up.posted by goodnewsfortheinsane (staff) at 6:31 AM on December 9, 2016
Oh well, the search was interesting.
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by Madamina at 7:28 AM on November 15, 2012 [1 favorite]