Historical Helga Hufflepuff (Original) by Eldr-Fire on DeviantArt (original) (raw)

The Hogwarts Founders lived in the 10th century, but most depictions of them do not show them in 10th century garb! I love the Middle Ages, so I decided to draw the founders in period-appropriate gear. (After all, wizards' clothing didn't stop following Muggle fashions until the International Statute of Secrecy in the 17th century.) This was my first time doing fashion research, and it was a lot of fun!

I started with Hufflepuff, the founder of my house! There wasn't a lot on 10th century Wales specifically, so I drew inspiration from the Anglo-Saxons, British and Irish Celts, and Franks. Hufflepuff is usually depicted with a bun, but I didn't find examples of buns from the time. Braids were ubiquitous, though! By the 11th century almost all women wore veils, but the fashion might not have caught on fully yet in early 10th century Wales. Coloured ribbons were common decoration. For makeup, women used elderberry juice to dye their lips and cheeks, but had no eye makeup. The bright yellow of her tunic was achieved by using the weld plant. The design on her breast is a chamomile, symbolizing patience.

For a more detailed account of the research behind this picture, including lots of links for the curious, click here: sta.sh/0hlwi0d1lbi