Fontange
The Fontange [ fɔ̃ˈtɑ̃ʒ ] is a tall hood built over a wire frame that was worn by women in Europe from around 1685 to 1715. The entire structure of the hood and hairstyle is also called a fontange.
The name refers to the Duchess of Fontanges , a maitresse of Louis XIV. Several different legends attribute the invention of this type of headgear to her. The most widespread tells that the Duchess loosened her hairstyle on a hunting trip with the king, whereupon she quickly fastened the hair with a ribbon on top of her head. The king is said to have been enthusiastic about this hairstyle, and so within a short time all the ladies of the court were adorning themselves with fontanges. When the Fontangen reached their greatest height around 1695–1700, it was reported that the King had grown tired of them, but even the Sun King was powerless against fashion. Fontangen only disappeared from fashion after his death in 1715.
literature
- The Fontangen song that has gone far and wide / often printed and copied. Anitzo with a number of remarks / The Fontangen bearers are the more disgusting ... against this vice / exposed through public pressure , sl 1693 ( urn: nbn: de: gbv: 3- 100004241 digitized )
- Gretel Wagner: Fontange . In: Reallexikon zur Deutschen Kunstgeschichte , Vol. X (2004), Sp. 184–189.
