Re-make, Re-model.

Re-interpreting the Victorian Gentleman's Handkerchief.

The Victorian Gentleman's Pocket Handkerchief.

1.

Part one: Modelling the legs.
Sample legs, modelled from sculpy (ceramic like sculpturing compound).

2.

Part 2: Casting the legs.
A sample sculpy leg (left) displayed with a finished resin leg (right).

3.

Part 3: Teaming the leg with the handkerchief.
Finished Ivory resin legs on (trial) cotton handkerchiefs.

Up-dating / re-interpreting the Victorian Gentleman's pocket handkerchief.

Hans Bellmer. Les Saltimbanques (The Street Performers) 1964

My friend Claire (for whom I am making the handkerchief) is a fan of sculptural shoes. She admires the work of shoe designers Tracey Neuls and Vivian Westwood. Heels are a good thing in her book.

Hans Bellmer drew beautifully, shoes and legs in particular, exquisitely capturing turn of heel and striped stockings, the crease of leather across the toe. For me, the beauty of the shoes he draws is that they look lived in. They are slightly fantastic yes, but there's an energy there that keeps me looking, following the lines round and round. I would like to carve a small leg for the handkerchief that has a similar energy. Something slightly fantastic, but lived in and worn at the same time.

My aim is to model the leg in clay, take a mould from it and then to cast the leg in a tinted resin, so it has the look and feel of ivory. Reminiscent of a much loved netsuke, polished and warm from use. Something along the lines of the legs below.

Photographer unknown, Erotic postcard. 1920's

Drawing by Gene Bilbrew (Detail) : SM chastity outfit, complete with padlocks and key. 1956

Jean Dulac (Detail) Drawing for Les Dessous d'un demi-siecle. 1956

Victorian Gentleman's pocket handkerchief

This Victorian Gentleman's handkerchief was bought by a friend of mine at Greenwich market, in London about ten years ago. I first saw it when she wore it to a wedding, the patterned silk cloth peeping glamorously out from the breast pocket of her fitted black frock coat. "I like your handky" I said, pointing towards it. She slowly teased the cloth from her top pocket in a jiggling, playful motion to reveal the little stockinged leg attached below. Smiling she made it dance for me, a jaunty one legged shimmy. It was a funny and captivating performance, a small but perfect act of theatre.

I was so taken with the handkerchief that she kindly gave it to me and although I accepted it with delight it was clear in my mind then that I wanted to try and make one for her in return. Not to copy it, but to try and capture it's spirit in some way, it's saucy but home spun esoteric charm.

The following posts will chart my attempts to re-interpret this pocket handkerchief for her.