Retro and current. The bully mask.

Almost 50 years ago. I wander through the narrow alleys of Venice. Even then tourists at the bridge of Sighs and at the Rialto Shopping Bridge.Masks and masks everywhere: Arlecchino (Harlequin), Brighella, Capitano (captain), Colombina, Dottore (doctor), Pantalone, Pulcinella, Scaramouche. Commedia delle maschere, Commedia of the mask. Commedia del' Arte.

Hallucinating, secretive, tasteless? Until suddenly I discover a mysterious shop in a dark alley with a 'golden' bully mask in the window. Hey, Dottore! That's my mask.

The plague mask was not a play mask, but, like the mouthwipes of modern times, was worn by doctors during the plague epidemics in Florence and Venice. To protect against the miasmas, they dressed themselves in special, closing clothing and wearing protective caps over the head.

In order to minimize contact with the 'quaade fumes', a kind of beak was made in the hood at the tip of the nose, fitted with air holes on the sides to breathe. The space in the beak was filled with fragrant herbs, so that the miasmas and the stench of the festering plague bumps were not perceptible. It was at the same time filter, perfume and disinfectant. The herbs used were mainly lip floweries such as thyme, rosemary and sage, but also garlic. Furthermore, Oriental spices and resins were incorporated into it, all plants with some antibiotic action. Unfortunately, they have not been able to prevent millions of people from being killed by this terrible disease.

In the late Middle Ages, the smoke bird was attributed healing powers against infectious diseases such as the plague. For doctors, the smokebird mask or plague mask became fashionable. In the 'beak nose' all kinds of herbs were burned to protect it from the plague.