The Seventh Veil

CELEBRATING THE ROARING TWENTIES IN A SPECIAL SERIES

Salomé – an icon of dangerous female seductiveness – has inspired centuries of artists to create paintings, operas, films, ballets, poetry, songs and even video games. For some she is the frivolous and foolish young woman who caused the death of John the Baptist, for others she is revered as the classic femme fatale, able to both fascinate and repulse simultaneously.

Aubrey Beardsley’s Salomé, 1907She danced before King Herod and his court and abstracted a promise from the king to grant a wish. Her dance is thought to have had an erotic element to it and is the precursor to the famous Dance of the Seven Veils during which six outer veils are flung off. Having seduced the king, and prompted by her mother, Salomé demanded the head of John to be served to her on a platter. If you ask me, it was rather foolish of the besotted king to have agreed to grant her wish before having heard it.

My seventh veil consists of portions of an Arabian dancing costume, a vintage sequin encrusted showgirl bra and lots of vintage pearls and silver jewellery. Plus loads of kohl, the essential accessory of any dancing girl worth her salt.

All Nazimova, Russian American actress, plays Salomé in 1923George Barbier’s portrait of Tamara Karsavina as Salomé, 1914Theda Bara in a rather awesome costume, as Salomé, 1918