Re: Harquus

Posted by Dave on December 15, 1999 at 23:23:47:

In Reply to: Harquus posted by Catherine Cartwright Jones on December 15, 1999 at 15:28:20:

: I've been looking at harquus as it parallels henna (since about 3000
: BCE or so) and the patterns..... why it's done, traditions
associated
: with it, I've found 100 or so patterns, and lots of descriptions of
: ingredients, but I havn't really tried mixing, making and applying.
:
: The medieval recipes that I've found involve carbonizing fragrant
: woods (your source of black ... soot) and mixing them with myrrh,
: ambergris or other perfume oils and henna. I'm guessing that the
: myrrh is very gently heated till it's just liquid, then the soot and
: a tiny bit of perfume oil are added, so it will be a sort of
paintable
: resin - based ink. (Not entirely unlike lac) There's a little henna
: paste in there too.... I've just been using waterproof eyeliner to
: try out the harquus patterns on myself..... They're sooooo
beautiful!
: I'd love to see them cross over into contemporary cosmetics ...
: especially as they're damn near extinct in their home countries.

: Any feedback? Anyone got a recipe?

: (Yes, if you want 3 sheets of harquus patterns, just email and ask,
: they're free. If you can do winzip, that's easier for me....)

Catherine
Sounds fascinating -I would be very interested to see the Harquus
patterns
Did this concoction stain the skin or was it just like a cosmetic
that was applied and cleaned off as required?

Dave

Follow-ups:

• Re: Harquus Catherine Cartwright Jones 02:59:08 12/16/99 (6)
  • Re: Harquus kate 01:58:27 12/17/99 (0)
  • Re: Harquus Kenzi 03:28:57 12/16/99 (4)
    • Re: I started small....still growing!!!! I. Allan 06:21:30 9/25/00 (0)
    • Re: I started small....still growing!!!! I. Allan 06:20:59 9/25/00 (0)
    • Re: Harquus christine 23:40:09 12/16/99 (0)
    • Re: Harquus Catherine Cartwright Jones 04:06:13 12/16/99 (0)