03-20-2013, 06:57 PM
I have recently finished a project which might interest some of the members here. I have created a horsehair crest for a Manning Imperial Corinthian helmet. Included are some images of its construction, particularly the dyeing process, which was documented for my customer.
![[Image: 8571171700_7ca1000fee.jpg]](http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8243/8571171700_7ca1000fee.jpg)
The hair in a laundry bag, ready for a mordant bath of cream of tartar and alum.
![[Image: 8570082011_d717d05b66.jpg]](http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8243/8570082011_d717d05b66.jpg)
Weighing out dyestuff for a sample - I used madder and cochineal. You can see the cochineal beetles on the scale.
![[Image: 8570077437_6c95452208.jpg]](http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8380/8570077437_6c95452208.jpg)
The hair drying after sitting in the cooling dyebath over night. A far more vibrant red than I had hoped for with traditional dyestuffs. Thanks to John at Fibregarden.ca for excellent advice and supplies.
![[Image: 8570111331_e94e49b0bd.jpg]](http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8523/8570111331_e94e49b0bd.jpg)
The crest finished and roughly trimmed.
![[Image: 8570111613_aa7b89a18a_z.jpg]](http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8100/8570111613_aa7b89a18a_z.jpg)
The crest stiffened with 'helmet head' hairspray and trimmed. Voila.
If anyone is curious about some detail not covered here, feel free to ask.
-Hildebrandt
![[Image: 8571171700_7ca1000fee.jpg]](http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8243/8571171700_7ca1000fee.jpg)
The hair in a laundry bag, ready for a mordant bath of cream of tartar and alum.
![[Image: 8570082011_d717d05b66.jpg]](http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8243/8570082011_d717d05b66.jpg)
Weighing out dyestuff for a sample - I used madder and cochineal. You can see the cochineal beetles on the scale.
![[Image: 8570077437_6c95452208.jpg]](http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8380/8570077437_6c95452208.jpg)
The hair drying after sitting in the cooling dyebath over night. A far more vibrant red than I had hoped for with traditional dyestuffs. Thanks to John at Fibregarden.ca for excellent advice and supplies.
![[Image: 8570111331_e94e49b0bd.jpg]](http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8523/8570111331_e94e49b0bd.jpg)
The crest finished and roughly trimmed.
![[Image: 8570111613_aa7b89a18a_z.jpg]](http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8100/8570111613_aa7b89a18a_z.jpg)
The crest stiffened with 'helmet head' hairspray and trimmed. Voila.
If anyone is curious about some detail not covered here, feel free to ask.
-Hildebrandt