The Scold's Bridle

A scold's bridle was an implement of torture and humiliation used on women. It was an iron cage-like muzzle with a "curb-plate", a bit about 2 inches long which projected into the mouth and pressed down on top of the tongue. The "curb-plate" was frequently studded with spikes, so that the tongue could not be moved without sustaining serious injury. Wives who were seen as shrews and scolds were forced to wear the scold's bridle. It was locked on and sometimes adorned with bells or animal-like embellishments to draw greater humiliation.

My fine lady with a scold's bridle is holding a shrew and standing next to a vase of ranunculus. I usually employ a lot of symbolism, but I just picked ranunculus this time because I like them.

The Scold's Bridle

I was working on my draperies today. I feel they are a little too severe. I will go back and try to soften them.

The Scold's Bridle

A scold's bridle was an implement of torture and humiliation used on women. It was an iron cage-like muzzle with a "curb-plate", a bit about 2 inches long which projected into the mouth and pressed down on top of the tongue. The "curb-plate" was frequently studded with spikes, so that the tongue could not be moved without sustaining serious injury. Wives who were seen as shrews and scolds were forced to wear the scold's bridle. It was locked on and sometimes adorned with bells or animal-like embellishments to draw greater humiliation.

I am painting my version of a fine lady wearing a scold's bridle. I've picked a limited palette of gold, green, umber, sienna and a touch of red.

The Scold's Bridle

 

The Scold's Bridle was also called a Branks. It was a torture device used from the Tudor through at least the Georgian era. It was for women who were mouthy or gossipy and needed to be curbed or corrected. It was a metal cage strapped to the head. The mouth cover had a piece that projected inward, filling the mouth with a tongue-plate which was sometimes spiked. If the woman moved her tongue at all she would risk great injury. Sometimes the Scold's Bridle was affixed with animal ears or bells to call attention to her great humiliation.