Jump to content

Recommended Posts

Posted

Okay...'the bunny ear' joke manifested itself back at Port Washington thanks to MadMary and 'Mark'.

I am still trying to adapt such a headdress to a proper size. It's hard to look at some of the 17th century etchings and scale it to my 'tiny little' head! To be small in stature and wear the Fontange Headdress (French) or Commode Headdress (English) can make one look taller...

photo-2975.jpg?__rand=0.71617700+1286403
Member of "The Forsaken"

Posted
From the Book, "Clothing of the Seventeeth Century"

The Fontange—The women's hair, which had been arranged in a curled, pearl-strung coiffure with ringlets bobbing over the bare shoulders, underwent a decided change. In 168o, Mlle. de la Fontange, a lady in waiting at the court of Louis XIV, was thrown from her horse while hunting and her hair fell down. She tied it up with her garter. This started the fashion of the fontange, an erection composed of lace, ribbons, ruffles and flutings raised one above another on a wire frame to the height of some eighteen inches; it was placed on the head tilted slightly forward over the forehead curls. The hair was coiled behind it, with one or two long curls hanging over the shoulder. The fontange is used in all of Moliere's plays.

18-inches in height?! I won't get through the damn door!

photo-2975.jpg?__rand=0.71617700+1286403
Member of "The Forsaken"

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
×
×
  • Create New...
&ev=PageView&cd%5Bitem_id%5D=12253&cd%5Bitem_name%5D=Wome+who+liked+to+slum+with+pirates...&cd%5Bitem_type%5D=topic&cd%5Bcategory_name%5D=Captain Twill"/>