The One Ring Forums: Tolkien Topics: Movie Discussion: The Hobbit:
Colour-coded Dwarves!



Eleniel
Tol Eressea


Nov 17 2012, 8:57pm


Views: 2139
Colour-coded Dwarves!

Somehow I missed this little tidbit in the Sibley book, and I know many are fond of the Dwarves' coloured travelling hoods, so let me share this information to brighten your day!

Ann Maskrey on dressing Thorin and Co:


Quote

Tolkien describes the colour of the hoods that the Dwarves hang up in Bag End but that made me think f garden gnomes, which is really not an image you want to give the movie audience! The one thing you don't want in a film is something that draws the eye to it and takes away from the creation as a whole.

However, as a nod to one of the only bits of costume description Tolkien provides, the inside of the Dwarves' cape hoods feature the key colours mention by the author.

Apart from the hoods, the Dwarf costumes are 'colour-coded' as follows:

Thorin - midnight blue;
Balin - predominantly red;
Dwalin: khaki green;
Bifur - rust;
Bofur - a dirty yellow-mustard;
Bombur - tones of olive green;
Fili - a slightly mauve-grey;
Kili - - teal blue;
Gloin - blood red;
Oin - brown;
Nori - grey;
Dori - mulberry colours;
Ori - soft lilac-grey.

The fabrics used for the Dwarves are a mix of wool, silk, corduroy and moleskin with a lot of leather and suede decorated with angular detailing to give a Dwarven look - we even mananged to create Dwarf designs on knitted scarves and waistcoats.



"Choosing Trust over Doubt gets me burned once in a while, but I'd rather be singed than hardened."
¯ Victoria Monfort






Captain Salt
Tol Eressea


Nov 17 2012, 10:54pm


Views: 1333
Nice that they've gone in this direction...

I wonder if the same or similar colors will apply when the Dwarves lose their outfits and are re-clothed in Laketown in Film 2, and then emerge from the Lonely Mountain decked out in Dwarf armor in Film 3. That would seem pretty convenient, so I image this color-cording system applies to the Company only up through Mirkwood (by which point we should be able to tell the Dwarves apart anyway).

Actually looking back at the vlogs, this seems to be partially retained for the post-Laketown costumes...Kili is still looking rather blue, Fili's decked out in brown, and Dori has red and purple...however, Bifur's wearing a deep red number, and Dwalin's new clothes are quite brown. Bombur still has the green jerkin, but orange sleeves and grey metal armor.

My Top 5 Wish List for "The Hobbit"
5. Legolas will surf down Smaug's neck
4. Bilbo will be revealed to a Robot
3. Naked PJ cameo as Ghan-Buri-Ghan
2. Use of not only 3D, but smell-o-vision, plus the inclusion of axes coming out of the seats and poking the audience when appropriate
1. Not only keep the claim that Thorin & Co. ran amok in Mirkwood "molesting people", but depict said incident in vivid detail!!!!!


TheSexyBeard
Lorien

Nov 17 2012, 11:11pm


Views: 1302
I noticed that some of them were colour coded in a group shot,

But didn't realize that the ALL were. Even though the designers' have given each outfit a distinct look, it's nice that they've included a nod to Tolkien's descriptions in each design.

And we also know some of the Dwarve's will have their hoods as well.

Yes, my username is terrible.


Elenorflower
Gondor


Nov 17 2012, 11:11pm


Views: 1292
well I am glad they

gave a nod to the hood colours.


Aitieuriskon
Lorien


Nov 18 2012, 12:49am


Views: 1268
Has she gone and confused Nori with Oin?

I thought Oin wore grey and Nori brown, not the other way around?

"After all, I believe that legends and myths are largely made of 'truth', and indeed present aspects of it that can only be received in this mode; and long ago certain truths and modes of this kind were discovered and must always reappear." Professor Tolkien, 1951


Lacrimae Rerum
Grey Havens

Nov 18 2012, 12:59am


Views: 1247
Not so much that

As a white hood from the text has been replaced with a blood red by the looks of it.

LR


Voronwë_the_Faithful
Valinor

Nov 18 2012, 1:03am


Views: 1303
There's also a nice picture

That demonstrates this very well, across the top of pages 74 and 75.

'But very bright were the stars upon the margin of the world, when at times the clouds about the West were drawn aside.'

The Hall of Fire


Eleniel
Tol Eressea


Nov 18 2012, 7:29am


Views: 1171
There may be some overlap...

since Oin definitely has a grey cloak, but in this picture in Bag End he is wearing brown:

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/...1600/thcc_oin_03.jpg

and Nori is wearing grey, but the brown leather distracts the eye here:

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/...600/thcc_nori_01.jpg


"Choosing Trust over Doubt gets me burned once in a while, but I'd rather be singed than hardened."
¯ Victoria Monfort






(This post was edited by Eleniel on Nov 18 2012, 7:30am)


Elthir
Grey Havens

Nov 18 2012, 3:10pm


Views: 1108
OK...


Quote
Bifur - rust



... I get it Wink

Well he 'got it' actually... and then it rusted.


totoro
Lorien

Nov 19 2012, 2:56am


Views: 1055
lol

I hadn't noticed. Now I feel like I am in on the joke!

In Reply To

Quote
Bifur - rust



... I get it Wink

Well he 'got it' actually... and then it rusted.



Thorins_apprentice
Rohan


Nov 19 2012, 3:21am


Views: 1303
the costumes look great.!

Love them.Cool

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