Sociologist, Biologist, Introvert, Foodie, History Buff, Italophile, Herbalist, Ethnographer, Traveler, Thinker, Dreamer...
by Magnifica Gianna Madalena Alberti/ Giata Magdalena Alberti (Gigi Coulson) These names are taken from the 1401 Registro della bollatura delle veste from the Comune of Bologna. This was list of clothing items that were declared to the record-keeper at a Parish location so that the item could be grandfathered in and not fined by … More Feminine Names from 15th Century Bologna
Just a few reasons I prefer Ferrara… Read more on events and sites in Ferrara here https://www.ferraraterraeacqua.it/en/#null –From The Guardian “An hour and a half later, hopping on a bus from Ferrara station, which is situated outside the massive, crumbling medieval walls, I found myself in a well-nigh perfectly preserved medieval and Renaissance city, with … More Ferrara Massima
A small group of friends have decided to accompany me to Venice, Padua, and Ferrara in February 2022! I put together a custom, elegant, boutique experience for them based on the places I’ve discovered during the past 10 years of solo Italian travel to historical sites both on and off the beaten path. I’m not … More Italia con Gigi 2022
Here are my tips on planning a trip to Italy. When I start planning my own trip I think of it in steps each time and I want to share that process for any who might be thinking of planning their own. In fact, I may host a bespoke trip in 2022 for a small … More Italy Travel Planning
Ciao Tutti! Welcome to the first workshop I’m hosting for translating the recipes of Caterina Sforza’s Gli Experimenti. First, let’s learn who she was, what the book is, and talk about the foundations laid by other researchers who have studied her work. The Author Caterina Sforza led a controversial and dramatic life, leaving us with … More Caterina Sforza Gli Experimenti Workshop I
Known World Italian Symposium: Salons of the Italies II is happening across the Known World April 23-24, 2021. Visit our KWIS: Salons of the Italies II event website for a full list of class descriptions, the schedule, and the zoom links for April 23-24! https://sites.google.com/westking…/salonsoftheitalies/home The schedule for the event will be posted on the … More Salons of the Italies II 2021
Dipping my toe into the waters of 18th-century beauty manuals and to no surprise books of secrets are still being printed. One book that I find in many of my research digs is the English translation of Toilette de Flore by Pierre-Joseph Buc’hoz. When I searched for information on Buc’hoz there was very little information … More 18th-century Beauty: Toilet of Flora
This blog post is dedicated to the digital exhibition on Apothecaries from Harvard University (https://collections.countway.harvard.edu/onview/exhibits/show/apothecary-jars/sequence). Apothecaries were a branch of the tripartite medical system of apothecary-surgeon-physician which arose in Europe in the early-modern period. Well established as a profession by the seventeenth century, the apothecaries were chemists, mixing and selling their own medicines. They sold … More 18th-Century Apothecaries
I’ve posted a video on how I perfumed a pair of leather gloves based on Margaret Baker’s recipe which can be found in her still room book (f98). In here book Margaret gives us insight on secrets for beauty that range from face powder to hair growth treatments. Learn more about her book at the … More Perfumed Leather Gloves
In 1555 Dei Secreti del Reverendo Don Alessio Piemontese was published in Bologna. In 1558 an English translation of that Italian book of secrets was published (and is now available online in digitized form). This book was wildly popular, translated into several language in the first few years of existence and then published in more … More Oglio Imperiale – Imperial Oil from Alexis of Piedmont’s Book of Secrets
La Bella Donna 