Zebellino Renaissance Fur

 

Extant bejeweled enameled decorative head

Zebellini or plural Zebillino are Marten weasels that have a decorative head and claws. Those items were normally engraved, enameled and bejeweled with various gems these were made of gold worked by a goldsmith. Kept by Renaissance women as fertility symbols. Also as a means to show status wealth and for warmth. As during this time gowns could be fully lined in fur for winter and chilly climates.

 A full length Zebellino 

As per medieval lore, the weasel was thought to reproduce through their ears. Thus making them an easily reproducing member of the weasel family. Granted science knows now that they reproduce through sexual organs as all normal mammals do.   such a gift would be ideal for a housewife or member of a Noble family. 

I did notice that not all have the bejeweled heads and feet. Somewhere left in their natural taxidermy state. Or wear some form of collar or muzzle over the natural head.

Zebellino goldworked head with chain

In this particular post, I wanted to show a few different varieties of how these were depicted in portraiture. They are only seen with women in the portraits, not with any men. These women tend to be noble class and higher 

Decorative head and claws decorated with chain

They seem to have a plain gold head, shaped like the creatures natural features without fur. It looks like diamonds were used quite a bit in the decoration, For those that did use jewels. Those appear black as they are not set in such a way to reflect light. A heavier chain like leash is normally attached to the head. This would be for ease of wearing the fur around one’s shoulders or attaching to a girdle belt.

While researching many portraits for these furs. I noticed that there was some that were open on the belly, and that the pelt inside was covered with a silk lining. I found this version less often, as most of the others being held in hand seem to be a fur that had the belly intact, and were not spread open as a full pelt.

 While I am not a Goldsmith, I can do a little bit of sculpting to create clawed feet with air dry clay and will cover those with gold leaf.  I happen to find foam taxidermy heads that are going to work beautifully for all of the detail, then some glass eyes. The foam version will be a little bit lighter as compared to an air dry head, which will create extra bulk on that end of the fur. Granted, even with a small gold head, that would be quite heavy as well. Heads were hollow, so the head of the pelt could be shoved inside

The decisions will be made when creating my version, to jewel or not to jewel. I did recently procure some ouches for making billaments for some French hoods. I am going to have to make a decision as to using maybe some on this project. I also decided to use a fox fur instead of a marten, Mainly for the sake of expense of trying to buy new. While I do have some vintage martens, they are not in good shape. I don’t want them to fall apart from wear  update it’s looking good just have some do some finishing  touches and then attach to the fur.