Re: For Catherine: academic query about henna

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Posted by Katherine on October 2, 2004 at 19:35:09:

In reply to: Re: For Catherine: academic query about henna posted by Alison on October 1, 2004 at 18:27:47:

: : In your research, have you encountered anything to indicate the
use
: : of henna for hair in sixteenth-century France or England? [I have
: : read your article about the attempted ban on it as a 'Moorish'
: : practice in Spain under the Inquisition.] Many of the female
: : portraits seem to me to suggest it, as did the popularity of red
: hair
: : to emulate Elizabeth I. Later, of course, there are all those
: Titians
: : from Italy. TIA, Katherine
:
: Well, I'm not Catherine, but as henna does not grow except in very
: hot, arid climates and it stales quickly once processed, I think it
: is highly unlikely that it was used in Northern Europe (widely or
at
: all). With modern and semi-modern shipping from the mid 1800's it
: was possible to send henna that far north before it went stale, but
: before then it wouldn't have been feasible.

I appreciate your reply, Alison - thanks, and I hadn't considered the
shipping aspect of the matter, which is a valid point. Do you think,
though, that just as today many still don't know the difference
between fresh and stale henna [but we'll fix that, right?;)], in
those days,such awareness would have been still less probable, and
they might have used what they could get [as they ate what they could
get]? Women did use cochineal in their cheek and lip paste, but I
wonder what they did to obtain red hair? Just trying to figure out
what I see in the portraiture.

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: : : In your research, have you encountered anything to indicate the : use : : : of henna for hair in sixteenth-century France or England? [I have : : : read your article about the attempted ban on it as a 'Moorish' : : : practice in Spain under the Inquisition.] Many of the female : : : portraits seem to me to suggest it, as did the popularity of red : : hair : : : to emulate Elizabeth I. Later, of course, there are all those : : Titians : : : from Italy. TIA, Katherine : : : : Well, I'm not Catherine, but as henna does not grow except in very : : hot, arid climates and it stales quickly once processed, I think it : : is highly unlikely that it was used in Northern Europe (widely or : at : : all). With modern and semi-modern shipping from the mid 1800's it : : was possible to send henna that far north before it went stale, but : : before then it wouldn't have been feasible. : : I appreciate your reply, Alison - thanks, and I hadn't considered the : shipping aspect of the matter, which is a valid point. Do you think, : though, that just as today many still don't know the difference : between fresh and stale henna [but we'll fix that, right?;)], in : those days,such awareness would have been still less probable, and : they might have used what they could get [as they ate what they could : get]? Women did use cochineal in their cheek and lip paste, but I : wonder what they did to obtain red hair? Just trying to figure out : what I see in the portraiture.
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