I was prompted to create this piece by the recent COVID pandemic and its associated ‘mask wearing’ rules.
The Plague Doctors Mask was PPE for the mid-17th century. The main feature of the outfit was a tight-fitting mask, complete with crystal eyepieces. This extended into a long beak, which was about half a foot (15 centimeters) long and filled with perfume or aromatic herbs. The beak was the most iconic feature of the outfit, and was thought to be essential for the doctor to prevent the inhalation of “pestilential miasma,” or disease-ridden air coming directly from the patient.
In this case it presents an opportunity for ‘High Drama’ or at least a talking point if you’re out for a walk!
The top (head) is carved from recycled Oak Kitchen worktop and the shaft is Blackthorn. The ‘eye pieces’ are copper washes with resin lenses. The ‘blood vein’ running down the ‘neck’ or top of the shaft is a natural split in the wood filled with red coloured resin. Between the head and the shaft lies a small collar carved from a chunk of antique billiard table (probably Mahogany).
