EMPRESS SISI’S BEAUTIFYING BATHS

Káli-Rozmis Barbara  2015.08.08. 18:42

EMPRESS SISI’S BEAUTIFYING BATHS

 

 

Elisabeth, who was very famous for her beauty cult, had refreshing and slimming baths daily in order to preserve her beauty and youth. She combined steam and hot bath with cold one. She especially liked warm olive oil to make her skin delicate. The Empress’ niece, Countess Wallersee witnessed and recorded a case when her aunt nearly sacrificed herself on the altar of beauty:

 

"The oil was so heated that it was almost boiling, and Elisabeth nearly met the terrible fate of the Christian martyrs!" (Chris Stadtlaender: Sisi császárné titkos szépségreceptjei - The Secret Beauty Recipes of Empress Sisi, page 38 - The book has not been translated to English.)

 

Initially, Sisi did not have a bathroom at the Vienna Hofburg, instead, like any other members of the imperial family, she also got a porcelain basin which was placed in her bedroom. Of course, this was not enough for her, so after her marriage, she also got a wooden tub, and later a wooden bath tub must have been provided to her. The Viennese court was appalled to see that the young Empress had daily bath while wearing nothing at all. Archduchess Sophie's court - because it never really became Sisi’s one, even if she was the Empress - was controlled by the strict rules of the Spanish etiquette, which had been already outdated even that time.

 

Even if the steps taken by Elisabeth in order to preserve her beauty and youth provoked indignation from the Viennese court, they were not unique in Europe. Several high-ranked guests of the Emperor of Austria were startled by the lack of bathrooms in the Hofburg and Schönbrunn Palace.

 

 

As mentioned above, the Vienna court was ruled by the laws of Archduchess Sophie, which might have been the reason of the fact that in the Hofburg Sisi had her bathroom, which was the most modern one of that time, built only relatively late, in 1876. It might be important to note that Archduchess Sophie died in 1872.

 

Sisi’s toilet was dolphin-shaped at Hofburg. The Empress was very fond of this motif: many of her personal belongings bore this motif including her cutlery, which can be seen in Sisi Museum at Hofburg, and some clothes of her wardrobe in Corfu.

 

 

 

 

Countess Marie Wallersee, Elisabeth’s niece was the daughter of her eldest brother, Louis and his wife, Henriette Mandel, the former actress. William Louis renounced his right of succession to the throne before marrying Henriette. This relationship caused a big scandal in the Wittelsbach-house, not only because of the morganatic marriage but also because the couple had an illegitimate daughter, Marie Louise, born on 24 February 1858. 

 

Henriette Wallersee received the title of Baroness from the Emperor, but she was never accepted by the upper class. Their daughter, Marie Wallersee, the later Countess Larisch, became the confidant of Queen Elisabeth partly because she was a great horsewoman but after the death and possible suicide of Sisi's only son, Rudolf, their friendship was spoiled forever. However, this is another story.

 

In the photo: Countess Marie Wallersee

 

 

BEAUTIFYING BATH RECIPES

 

Finally, let us have some beautifying bath recipes from the imperial court recipe book.

(According to Chris Stadtlaender’s book: Sisi császárné titkos szépségreceptjei - Secret Beauty Recipes of Empress Sisi, page 82-84 - The book has not been translated into English.)

 

 

Oriental luxury bath of Nofretete, Queen of Egypt (born ca. 1370 – died ca. 1330 BC)

1 liter of milk

1 cup of honey

2 tablespoons of pollen

Essence fragrance (e.g. amber, clove, sandalwood, orchid, etc. ).

 

 

 

 

Herbal bath (refreshes and invigorates blood flow and cleanses the pores )

 

Half a handful of the following: chamomile, peppermint, rosemary, lavender, sage, linden flower, fennel, hay flowers

Half a cup of honey

Water

Throw the herbs into boiling water and leave it for an hour then drain and filter it. Press the liquid from the herbs then mix it with honey and pour it into the bath water.

 

 

Cleopatra's milk bath (for the soft and velvety skin) - Cleopatra, Egyptian Queen (born: 69 BC– died: 30 BC)

One and a half liter of milk

One and a half cup of honey

Pour it into your 36-39 degree bath water, and enjoy your bath for 15-20 minutes.

 

Photo: American actress Elizabeth Taylor as Cleopatra

 

 

 

 

 

George Sand's beauty spa

Aurore Dudevant (1804-1876), best known by her pseudonym George Sand, was a French novelist and memoirist, who, like Sisi, loved beautifying baths.

 

300 g of sea salt

2.5 deciliter of cream (whipped cream)

2 cups of honey

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ninon de l'Enclos 's honey and milk bath

Courtesan Ninon (1620 – 1705) was a French author, courtesan, freethinker, and patron of the arts.

500 g of salt (for dry skin put less salt, and add more milk)

1 liter of milk

1 cup of honey

 

Put the salt into the bath tube then fill that with hot water, and mix the heated milk with honey then add it to the bath water. Enjoy your bath for 15-20 minutes.

 

 

Works Cited

Katrin Unterreiner. Sisi - Myth and Truth

Chris Stadtlaender. Sisi császárné titkos szépségreceptjei /The Secret Recipes of Empress Sisi - The book has not been translated to English/

 

 

 

 

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