Sweet Panic! at the Disco steampunkification of Victorian death practices. Nice song, too — and I want one of those hats! [Cool hat-tip to Tor.com]
Also, there’s this:
It’s called a ‘Scold’s Bridle’ and was used to punish a gossiping or recalcitrant woman, beginning in the 1500s. This one, from the Wellcome Collection in the UK, is of German make, but the regular use of this particular torture implement actually began in England, before spreading to the continent. Apparently, usage continued well into the 1800s, particularly in workhouses. [via boingboing and the Science Museum of London] .
I always view torture devices with a sceptical eye, as so many supposed medieval devices of this sort have proved to emerge from the vivid Victorian imagination, but the sources citing the use of this one look to be pretty legit.
I just received a whack of absolutely wonderful thank you letters from some of the kids I spoke to in Whistler a couple of weeks ago, which has inspired me to scan and put a few pieces of these and other fan mail up on my blog. Also plan to answer some of the questions they’ve posited. Keep watching this space!
As always, more soon…
~kc
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