This is a quick posting for doll collectors who like a photo of a lot of dolls.
Here are 33 24th scale Egyptians all with pates waiting for the hairdresser and wigmaker (that would be me.)
Hair in Ancient Egyptian times is interesting, shaving the head was usual in both sexes. Priests shaved all hair that grew anywhere on them.
You may wonder why.
The Egyptians lived on and beside the Nile. In the water various animals, beside the water, reed beds and numerous plants, across the land for a third of a year, thick black mud.
Have you ever had a picnic by a river? What did you get for free?
On or near water I like to take my husband. He is an insect magnet. He always gets bitten.
From mummies we can tell that the Ancient Egyptians were plagued by infestations of insects. Remember the Plagues from the story of Moses in the Bible? Not just a story but an ever-present problem. The Ancient Egyptians had head lice, Malaria, Filariasis (also caused by mosquitos), Leishmaniasis (known as black fever), Schistosomiasis (caused by a water borne parasitic worm), and plague.
Shaving the hair gave less places for the insects to get a hold unseen.
Men generally shaved their hair and let it grow back very short before shaving it again. Women shaved or cut their hair very short and then wore wigs. The wigs could be made of various textiles or real hair. As we have seen they wore cones of melting wax on their wigs for special occasions.
The Egyptians were accomplished chemists, producing numerous cosmetics, perhaps the wax cones delivered insect repellent along with the fragrance.
Children had their own special hairstyle, called the lock of youth. Most of the hair was shaved except for one lump on the side of the head which was allowed to grow long and then plaited and adorned with ribbons. Although these styles were for young children, the Pharaoh’s son and heir, kept the lock of youth until he inherited, whenever that might be.
As I am making very small dolls you might wonder if I am going to attempt the lock of youth on the children.
I am.
Will it work?
The answer is in the lap of the Gods, specifically Hathor, who was known as ‘The lady of the plait.’
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The ancient Egyptians will be coming with me to Miniatura, details here: www.miniatura.co.uk
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