Isn’t the Philippe Lesbahy bedroom fabulous?! We took clients there the other day — I meant to tell you about it and forgot. I had no idea it was going to be this fab. I knew the bed was off being restored, but assumed it would just reappear with hangings in due course. I thought the explanation of their sources for the reconstruction were excellent. In my job in heritage conservation in the UK I had a rush mat maker on my list of suppliers, so I was able to tell the clients quite a lot about it.
I don’t think Innocent’s nether regional arrangement qualifies as a codpiece, btw. It’s a flap on his hose that he can lower when necessary. There may be an equivalent at the back — medieval working class and artisanal men were famous for going around with their back flap undone — yes, builder’s crack is that old a concept! I’ve seen the inside of slightly later breeches, and the area that the genitalia sits in is padded, just like modern cycling pants. You could still see the imprint of the testicles on the ones I saw 🙂 Innocent looks fantastically authentic, I love it!
Rosemary Kneipp
April 2nd, 2013 at 8:46 pm
When you didn’t mention Philippe Lesbahy’s bedroom, I assumed you musn’t have see it. It’s truly the best thing I’ve seen in a château for a long time!
I didn’t realise that codpiece was such a specialised term! Braguette isn’t nearly as specific. I’m pretty sure that he didn’t have a flap at the back. He was a wonderful actor. We had the most enlightening discussion with him.
Susan’s right; also often codpieces were far more elaborate padded affairs and could be OTT [think Henry VIII, 16th cent] . An ‘ordinary’ guy’s everyday wear at the time of Langeais [late 15th] would be hose with flap such as the ones this chap has.
BTW by the 16th cent they even had armoured versions as add-ons to the the suits of armour worn –some had wee faces!
Love the way they did the whole “marriage”. What a great way to ‘feed’ history to kids.
Rosemary Kneipp
April 2nd, 2013 at 8:50 pm
I’ve seen the armoured ones. You and Susan are certainly experts in the field!
It was extremely well done. The actors were excellent and ad libbed wonderfully. It was most entertaining. There are also treehouses in the grounds as well as the mediaeval scaffolding. All the kids certainly seemed to be having a great time.
[…] recent and extremely interesting addition as I mentioned in Easter Sunday in Château country, is Philippe Lesbahy’s bedroom. The beautiful neo-Renaissance four-poster bed dates from the […]
Easter Sunday in Château country http://t.co/UObFXczZIo
Isn’t the Philippe Lesbahy bedroom fabulous?! We took clients there the other day — I meant to tell you about it and forgot. I had no idea it was going to be this fab. I knew the bed was off being restored, but assumed it would just reappear with hangings in due course. I thought the explanation of their sources for the reconstruction were excellent. In my job in heritage conservation in the UK I had a rush mat maker on my list of suppliers, so I was able to tell the clients quite a lot about it.
I don’t think Innocent’s nether regional arrangement qualifies as a codpiece, btw. It’s a flap on his hose that he can lower when necessary. There may be an equivalent at the back — medieval working class and artisanal men were famous for going around with their back flap undone — yes, builder’s crack is that old a concept! I’ve seen the inside of slightly later breeches, and the area that the genitalia sits in is padded, just like modern cycling pants. You could still see the imprint of the testicles on the ones I saw 🙂 Innocent looks fantastically authentic, I love it!
When you didn’t mention Philippe Lesbahy’s bedroom, I assumed you musn’t have see it. It’s truly the best thing I’ve seen in a château for a long time!
I didn’t realise that codpiece was such a specialised term! Braguette isn’t nearly as specific. I’m pretty sure that he didn’t have a flap at the back. He was a wonderful actor. We had the most enlightening discussion with him.
Susan’s right; also often codpieces were far more elaborate padded affairs and could be OTT [think Henry VIII, 16th cent] . An ‘ordinary’ guy’s everyday wear at the time of Langeais [late 15th] would be hose with flap such as the ones this chap has.
BTW by the 16th cent they even had armoured versions as add-ons to the the suits of armour worn –some had wee faces!
Love the way they did the whole “marriage”. What a great way to ‘feed’ history to kids.
I’ve seen the armoured ones. You and Susan are certainly experts in the field!
It was extremely well done. The actors were excellent and ad libbed wonderfully. It was most entertaining. There are also treehouses in the grounds as well as the mediaeval scaffolding. All the kids certainly seemed to be having a great time.
[…] recent and extremely interesting addition as I mentioned in Easter Sunday in Château country, is Philippe Lesbahy’s bedroom. The beautiful neo-Renaissance four-poster bed dates from the […]
[…] is famous for its mediaeval castle but what we love is the pâtisserie opposite! They make their own delicious ice-cream, […]