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
The hair in a laundry bag, ready for a mordant bath of cream of tartar and alum.
Weighing out dyestuff for a sample - I used madder and cochineal. You can see the cochineal beetles on the scale.
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.
The crest finished and roughly trimmed.
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
