This page is divided into three main sections: Fabric, Gems and Metals, and Dyes. By no means is this an exhaustive list of all available materials; it is merely a sampling of the amazing amount of things that could be had. There will be more to come as I research further into the available products of the age.

Fabric

Brocade - A fabric of expensive fiber with patterns woven in, most often simple geometric patterns such as stripes.

Buckram - The word buckram in the context of this period does not refer to the linen fabric used in later periods to stiffen garments, but an expensive fabric on par with scarlet which was used for outer garments. Its composition was likely of silk or similar fine material as it was used by the nobility, who were used to conspicuous consumption.

Chainsil - Goddard states that "From the facts that chainsil was especially used as a material for the chemise and that it is frequently mentioned as white, it has been assumed that chainsil was some kind of linen." As opposed to chainse which was often used to reference a garment made from chainsil material.

Ermine, Miniver, Sable, Vair - Rich furs often used to line garments or as trim on expensive gowns. These furs are restricted to the nobility. The commoners wore rabbit or other types of less exotic fur.

Mottled Silk - Silk with many different colors of dye painted onto it. In Chretien de Troyes, gowns made of such were given as rich gifts by King Arthur at the wedding of Erec.

Orphrey - Elaborate gold embroidered or woven fabric or bands of such embroidery, much prized by the upper classes. Used as decoration in girdles, as ribbons, hair ornaments, and even dog leashes.

Perse - A cloth of excellent quality of a rich blue color; manufactured in Provence, which became famous for its production. It was much used by nobility for their garments.

Samite - A thick, lustrous silk twill without the shininess found in today's silks. It was often interwoven with gold or silver threads, though the fabric itself could be any color.

Scarlet - A fine woolen broadcloth rivalling the better silks in price and luxury appeal. It could be red or another color altogether. For example in The Knight with the Lion of Chretien de Troyes, it is colored the deep blue-green of peacock's feathers.

Serge - A rough, inferior fabric made of wool or linen which was worn by the lower classes.

Gems and Metals

Amythest - A purple stone regularly used in ornaments.

Carbuncle - An imaginary stone that was said to reflect a light to rival that of the sun. Often described as bright red and compared to the garnet or ruby.

Carnelian - A clear red variety of chalcedony, not to be confused with sardonyx for which a similar word was used.

Chalcedony - A fine-grained variety of quartz that has a great range of colors, most usually bluish-white, grey, yellow, or brown.

Chrysolite - A transparent green gem, often called "olivene" because of its color.

Garnet - A dark red stone often used in ornaments.

Ivory - A white bone-like material which comes from the tusks of elephants and other large animals of that type. Used often in furniture, it was usually carved into fanciful shapes.

Jacinth - A reddish-orange variety of zircon, also called "hyacinth".

Ruby - A red stone with a color lighter and oftimes clearer than that of garnet. Also regularly used in ornaments.

Sardonyx - Translucent light- to dark- brown variety of chalcedony, a close relative of carnelian.

Dyes

Brazilwood - An East Indian tree that produces crimson or purple dye.

English Walnut - A European tree Juglans regia that produces black dye.

Grana or Kermes - A red dye derived from certain dried insects.

Indigo - The plant Indigofera tinctoria which was not widely used in Western Europe until the late 13th century due to the lack of ways to process the pigment cubes which were exported from India. The problem of unusable indigo was finally solved by the Venetians when Marco Polo wrote a description of the preparation process which he had observed while in India.

Madder - The Rubia tinctorum plant which produces the red dye alizarin.

Orchil - A violet dye derived from lichen.

Weld - A European plant Reseda luteola having long spikes of small, yellowish-green flowers and yielding a yellow dye.

Woad - The plant Isatis tinctoria which was used to create a blue dye similar to indigo to which woad is closely related. It grows easily in northern climates and does not have to be specially processed, unlike indigo, a fact which contributed to its popularity.