Beauty Marks: Back in the day in the year of 1700s Beauty Marks were made of black velvet, taffeta, or leather. They were known as "mouches", which is the French word for fly. Not so sexy, a fly…
I found the above diagram on Pinterest and knew I had to do a post about it. Little did I know what I was going to find out when I followed the link and read about Les Mouches. I knew that Beauty Marks-Les Mouches had symbolic meaning depending on were they were placed, but I didn't know that Beauty Marks were made of fabric. I thought they were painted on with charcoal or liner. The biggest surprise was were the Beauty Marks were kept when not in use.
The Beauty Marks meaning in English (by Quaintrellelife)
middle of forehead = dignified
corner of eye = passionate
middle of cheek = gallant
heart-shaped (left cheek) = engaged
heart-shaped (right cheek) = married
between mouth and chin = silent
on lower lip = discreet
beside the mouth = likes to kiss
on nasolabial fold = playful
on nose = saucy
near lip = flirtatious
"Une dame à sa toilette", by 18th-century artist François Boucher, shows a lady applying Beauty Marks-Les Mouches to her face.
After watching this video clip I thought about all of those little boxes I have seen and sold, I thought they were to keep ones precious earrings or rings, instead of just putting them on the nightstand. Wow.
Some Limoges boxes from my colletction…
Some of them have Chelsea and Sacha's baby teeth.
Some are empty.
Some of them I have sold.
None hold beauty marks.
Dang.
A small box I had a awhile ago.
It could have been for Beauty Marks.
It could have been for false eyelashes.
It could have been for earrings…
It could have been mine, but I sold it.
But then if I didn't have the Brocante Bug I would have never known the purpose of these boxes with mirrors.
Pietro LONGHI. Femme à sa toilette. (The word Toilette – 'Toilet' is a French word that in English we would say, "Getting Ready", or "Going to Get Dressed", or "Putting on my Makeup", or/and a combination of the three.
If you wore a Beauty Mark were would you put it?
In the day Beauty Marks were worn not only on ones face, but also on ones neck, shoulder and chest.
The language of Beauty Marks, different sources have more or less the same meanings… all of which were mischievous and follow precise rules.
Here is another list I found:
Near the mouth, especially the corner of the mouth or lower lip meant: Pleasure. If you had two around the lips the first one was called "Beautiful", the second "Murderous", on the throat, they expressed "Gallantry-Daring". Also if the beauty Mark was on the nose, it meant you were "Brazen". On the corner of the eye "Passionate", though not to be confused with the "Irresistible" which was always placed near the eye. And if you wore a Beauty Mark on the middle of the forehead, it was a sign of "Majesty".
Beauty and the source of passion can be found in the rare as well as the ordinary. Most of the antique everyday objects I am drawn to have humble beginnings. What sparks my passion for these objects are that they were thoughtfully hand crafted and have, in my opinion, become more beautiful over time.
Seduction is the story the object tells me when I see it, and more so when it is in my hand… Hints sips through the cracks, the chips, the tear, its the story an object tells as it passes from hand to hand being used, misplaced, guarded and set aside. These objects scattered along the French brocantes have lived longer lives than our own, holding them I feel a connection to the pass, a link to another part of myself, a story unraveled.
The Beauty Mark gave a hint to a woman's whimsy and desire.
A Giveway…
The pink Limoges Box.
I will randomly pick a winner tomorrow from the comment section.
What would your Beauty Mark symbolize?
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