#SeptTextileLove26 Day 7

 

#SeptTextileLove #STL26Day7
‘Historical’ ... Family history is often a source of inspiration and information for my work. This stitched work featuring a photo of my great grandmother also acts as a commentary on the Chinese historical practice of foot binding, hence the inclusion of an x ray photograph of a female bound foot. It looks painful and undoubtedly was , but it was considered 'beautiful". What contemporary body shaping practices do we still engage in for the sake of ‘beauty’?

Historical body shaping practices included tight-lacing corsets, foot binding, and neck elongation, all used to mould the human form into culturally defined ideals of beauty. (AI overview)

Foot Binding in China

Starting from Song elites and eventually popularized and ended in the Qing dynasty, foot binding was seen as an idolized representation of women's petite beauty, and the practice was referred to as "三寸金莲" , 'three-inch golden lotus' Wikipedia.

This practice involved tightly wrapping young girls' feet to break the bones and stunt growth. Small feet were considered a supreme marker of elegance, refinement, and high social status.

Corsetry and Tight-Lacing in the West

To achieve this in reality, the corset became a popular undergarment among women in the Western world from the late Renaissance into the 20th century CNN.

Heavy boning made from whalebone, steel, or wood compressed the torso. It aimed to drastically reduce waist size while accentuating the hips and bust to create an exaggerated hourglass figure.

Neck Elongation with Rings

In various global cultures, such as among the Kayan people of Myanmar and parts of Africa, brass coils or rings were progressively added to the neck. This practice pushed the collarbones down and compressed the ribcage, creating the visual effect of an elongated neck, which symbolized grace and beauty.

Skull Deformation

Several ancient civilizations, including the Maya, the Huns, and the Indigenous peoples of the Americas, practiced artificial cranial deformation. Infants' heads were bound with boards or cloth to shape the skull into elongated or flattened profiles. This permanent modification often indicated nobility, tribal identity, or aesthetic distinction.