Ancient costume

[anna_wing]

https://www.amazon.com/Dressing-Ancient-Textiles-Margarita-Gleba-dp-1842172697/dp/1842172697/ref=mt_other?_encoding=UTF8&me=&qid=

I've been reading a fascinating anthology of articles on ancient textile and costume research called "Dressing The Past (Ancient Textiles)", edited by Margarita Gleba, consisting of various short but extremely interesting articles about different aspects of ancient textile/clothing research. Starting with a chapter on Minoan women's dress (with a very interesting observation that design students without any classical training immediately spotted that an ivory "Minoan snake goddess" statuette was probably a Victorian/Edwardian fake - I have to admit that when I first saw the photo, without having read the text, I assumed that it was Art Nouveau), and including articles on Sarmatians, Vikings, and how Hollywood "historical" films nonetheless reflect very obviously the styles of their era, especially in the costumes of the leading lady.

An e-book from the library. Thank you, Libbyapp.

Comments

[shirebound]

I think I'd enjoy that.

[anna_wing]

It's really very interesting, and the bibliographies at the end of each article sound fascinating, at least the works in languages that I'd have a hope of reading. Most of the Sarmatian/Central Asian stuff seems to be in Russian, as one would expect. If Livejournal hadn't locked me out, I would have put out a query.

[sovay]

Starting with a chapter on Minoan women's dress (with a very interesting observation that design students without any classical training immediately spotted that an ivory "Minoan snake goddess" statuette was probably a Victorian/Edwardian fake - I have to admit that when I first saw the photo, without having read the text, I assumed that it was Art Nouveau)

Is it the one at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston?

[anna_wing]

Yes, I believe so. The silhouette is certainly very similar. When I saw the photo I mentally placed it as a Classical revival piece.

[sovay]

Yes, I believe so. The silhouette is certainly very similar.

I wonder if she's been deaccessioned: I can't find the object anywhere in a search of their collections. Here's what she looked like. I believe from my childhood the museum was skeptical about her provenance—she does not have an archaic face—but I used to love to visit her all the same.

[anna_wing]

Yes, that's the one. She actually bears a strong resemblance to Alexandra of Denmark, Queen Consort of Edward VII of Great Britain, with added snakes.


https://c8.alamy.com/comp/C1WGFA/princess-alexandra-of-denmark-1844-1925-queen-of-england-great-britain-C1WGFA.jpg

[sovay]

She actually bears a strong resemblance to Alexandra of Denmark, Queen Consort of Edward VII of Great Britain, with added snakes.

She does.

[ethelmay]

Goodness, so she does. Now I want to see a movie about Alexandra in which occasionally her fichu retreats into her gown to expose her bosom, her fan turns into a snake or two, etc.

Wasn't there a story about a discovery of Cretan frescoes where one of the French archeologists' reaction to the wide-skirted, narrow-waisted women was, "But they are Parisiennes!"? (I am going off vague memories of a Big Golden Book of Ancient History, or something like that.)

[anna_wing]

Never heard of that, but I could well believe it! I believe Sarah Bernhadt had a pet python, not to mention the most recognisable piece of snake jewellery in the world..

https://cdn.britannica.com/700x450/11/45311-004-EA2FFB00.jpg

Alexandra as the secret guardian of the British Empire, who chucked the whole thing in a snit because Bertie did her wrong...