"They're walking around without masks, they're not following social distancing rules, they're getting in fights with storefront doormen who are just trying to follow the customer-limit laws put in place to try and keep us safe, etc."Īlthough the mask was for fun at first, Heather Wood has more serious reasons for wearing it now. "I have witnessed again and again people who are not taking this situation seriously," she said. While at first she thought it might just be funny to wear the plague doctor outfit, now her reasons for wearing it are much more serious. "Even if I give them a nod or a friendly hat-tip, they seem really put-off and just kind of hurry past," she said.īut Wood is actually trying to scare people. I expected to come across a few double-takes or some passing comments, but the ensemble seems to intimidate and unnerve people enough that they will adamantly go silent and not make eye-contact with me as I walk past," she said. "But, surprisingly, I've found that a lot of people seem to purposefully ignore me. On those outings, people have made comments. One couple asked to have a photo with her, and another person gave her the thumb-ups from his car. "What with quarantine in effect coupled with the fact I work from home, I don't normally leave my house except to buy groceries, and you don't always want to put on a full, fancy ensemble when you're going to the corner store for milk," she said. Heather Wood has worn her full plague doctor ensemble twice. Since October, Wood has worn her full plague outfit twice. The plague doctor ensemble dates back to 17th-century Europe when physicians wore the mask filled with perfume in a mistaken belief the fumes would protect them. She bought most of it, including the mask, on Etsy, though some of it she already had at home. The dance reminded people of how fragile their lives were and how vain the glories of earthly life.She has a black leather hip bag and, of course, the mask and hat. It consists of an allegory of Death leading a a group of dancing figures to the grave (usually an emperor, king, pope, monk, peasant, child, all as skeletons). ![]() One of the most known works of art showcasing this concept of inevitability of death is La Danse Macabre or the Dance of Death. Since the Black Death, the Plague Doctor Costume is associated with death, as a sign that plague is near. Because it had it struck so d estructively (between 30% to 60% of Europe's population died during the pandemic) and affected everyone, from kings to poor, from old to child, it remained ingrained in our culture as a memento mori. Among famous plague doctor who gave medical advice to be used against the plague were Nostradamus and Paracelsus. The largest plague epidemic was the Black Death i n Europe, in the 14th century. Plague doctors would also carry a cane to examine patients without the need to make direct contact with them.Īt the time doctors thought that the herbs would chase away the miasma, aka the "evil" smells of the plague, and thus protect them from the disease. The beak could contain dried flowers (roses), herbs (mint), spices (cloves, camphor). It was a sort of respirator, with nose holes designed for breathing. The mask had round eye-holes, covered with clear glass and a bird shaped like beak, and was attached to the face with straps. The suit consisted from a bird-like mask with spectacles, and a long leather or waxed-canvas gown, which covered the doctor from neck to ankle. The suit, as well as the gloves, leggings, boots and the hat were impregnated with fragrance extracted from spices and herbs, similar to the one used for the beak mask. ![]() Some plague doctors wore a special costume, invented by Charles de Lorme in 17th century, the physician of three French kings: Henri IV, Louis XIII and Louis XIV (Le Roi Soleil). A plague doctor was a medical physician hired by city halls to treat inhabitants affected by the disease during 17th-19th centuries.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |