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Reproduction of Cranach's Magdelena

I had been in love with Cranach's Magdalena since I first saw it; here is my version. The gown is brick silk velvet and gold with red hand painted and beaded (by me) silk guards. The skirt has 16 gores on it and it is roll pleated to a separate waistband before being hand sewn onto the bodice.  Plastron design is changed to include two black unicorns (I found with the help of Michela documentation of animals on German plastrons and wanted to include my signature unicorn) and a hat and beaded caul were added to formalize the look for the event. 10 natural ostrich feathers were hand curled for the hat. Hemd is semi- sheer white silk with hand smocked neckline and shoulders which you can see through the sleeve slashes and under the bodice lacing. Worn under the skirt is a moss green silk petticoat which matches the silk the cuffs are lined with to mimic the original portrait. Choker is made from the guard silk and embellished with brooches and crystal red drops. I would have liked to add a larger chain as in the portrait but due to SCA regulations where only Knights can wear large unadorned gold chains I left that out.

Things I need to work on; the lacing in the front is off as I had never done this type before; I tried ladder lacing but the bodice is unboned (lined with 2 layers cotton duck and one more layer of gold silk) and it pulled the front weird; will be spiral lacing as well as securing the rings more. The sleeves are a work in progress; I am making a new set with lined panes instead of the current one layer of bias cut slashed velvet. I also want to work with the waistband; you can see a hint of bright red at my waist which is the waistband turning up. :p

Fabric color tests

No flash

Choker with all it's crystals

Trying on the hat

No idea how it was supposed ot work!

Pieceing the panels together

Dante was my 'Little Helper'

This is the underskirt

Close up of trim; it's alot redder in real life

The gown done!