This isn’t directly related to fashion history per se, but I thought that many of you would find it interesting.
Coming to us from the blog of the Royal Armouries is this painted iron mask from the 17th-18th centuries, displayed in the Tower of London. Thought to be an executioner’s mask in the 19th century, the museum now believes that it is part of a “scold’s bridle” or “branks”, which were used to punish minor crimes such as gossip. (Meaning I’d probably be wearing one of these all the time.)
They usually consisted of a form of muzzle in a metal framework, designed to effectively and painfully prevent the wearer from talking, and shame them in public by making them conspicuous. The 18th-century example shown here came from England or Scotland. It comprises an iron frame for the head which was padlocked in place at the back, and a serrated iron tongue for insertion into the mouth.
It is doubtful that branks were used at the Tower as instruments of torture and punishment; it seems more likely that they were acquired to augment and enhance the historic collection.
According to Wikipedia, the first recorded use of a scold’s bridle was in Scotland in 1567 but were also used in England, Germany and other places in Northern Europe. They were usually used on lower class women who were gossipy, “riotous” or accused of witchcraft, but use on men was not unheard of. Additional punishment came in the form of being forced to wear the bridle in public and, sometimes, beatings.
Some more examples of scold’s bridles:
16th century Scotland, Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum
ca 1550-1800 Belgium, Wellcome Library, London
This example employs a bell to draw more attention to the wearer.
An illustration from ca 1649
(via lostinhistory)
