Further references for body modification theme...

Glass Eye, German, circa 1872-1930.

Hard (Haptic or Scleral) Contacts, circa 1940's.  These early contacts were meant to rest on the white portion (sclera) of the eye. While these were not intended to modify the body, certainly wearing hard contacts would have had some effect on how the eyelid looked opened or closed.

Kasey McMahon, Bird Cage Dress.

Antique Partial Dentures, date unknown. 

Erhardt's Mouth Speculum, circa 1884.

Advertisement for Erhardt's Mouth Speculum. 

Wooden  Elbow Splint, circa Civil War.

Spermatorrhea Ring, circa late Victorian to Early Edwardian Era. Back when masturbation was not only considered a sin but believed to be the cause of a number of illnesses people would place these devices around the genitals to prevent self stimulation. Often times these were used voluntarily.  

Body modification and you!

Lately I've been thinking about jewelry based body modification, specifically body modification that is non-invasive. Items such as corsets, splints and quack medicine items like the Victorian nasal rectificateur have been used to mold the human shape for either recuperative purposes or to obtain a fashionable (if unnatural) shape. I'm currently designing a few pieces meant to contort the body, in the mean time here are some of the current references I've been looking at.

Una Burke.

Una Burke, Retreat, 2012.

French Nasal Rectificateur. A quack medical device from around the turn of the last century. It was meant to be worn to change the shape of the nose, making it more pleasing visually. Needless to say, it didn't work.

Victorian to Edwardian Wrist Splint. 

Victorian Summer Corset, circa 1890-1900.

Victorian Neck Brace.

Victorian Corset, drawing, circa 1878.

Ring, first cast project, fall 2012.

Ring, sterling silver, 2012.

Ring, tube setting project, fall 2012.

Ring, sterling silver and cz stone, 2012.