Dr. Butts

[PrincessSara]

I'm tentatively looking to turn my father into Dr. Butts, Henry VIII's personal physician, for next year's Casa Loma.  There is a portrait of him but I would like more information.  What social class would Dr. Butts have belonged to?  And what would he/a member of that class wear?  What about his wife, Lady Butts?

[operafantomet]

Beng the court doctor/physician, he would be way up in the system. According to a site I stumbled across, he earned well over a hundred pound a year, which seems to have been an average sum for a well-to-do merchant (in comparisation, a laborer would earn 5-10 pounds a year).

So what you're looking for, is a well-to-do doctor, dressing according to his profession, in sober black and with the typical doctor hat, but with a fair sum of money in the bank. He led a comfortable life, at least in economical sense.

Have you seen this site?
http://www.tudorplace.com.ar/Bios/WilliamButts.htm

Various portraits, seems to be three prototypes:
http://www.npg.org.uk/collections/search/person.php?LinkID=mp00685

[Cilean]

I'm tentatively looking to turn my father into Dr. Butts, Henry VIII's personal physician, for next year's Casa Loma.  There is a portrait of him but I would like more information.  What social class would Dr. Butts have belonged to?  And what would he/a member of that class wear?  What about his wife, Lady Butts?

I think first you must do a little research in "Learned People of Henry's Time" and then check out Physician's Clothing.
Someone has shown this portrait, and you see the black hat? That shows proof that this man is learned and skilled, that he has taken time to study or is a professor.  Sometimes Doctors would wear the colors of their patrons.  So if someone had livery of Silver and Green, so then would his Doctor wear those same colors.  So you will need to research if Dr. Butts wore Livery Colors of England.  Or showed his status in wearing black clothing, or had his own livery.




You may want to purchase the newest book from Tudor Tailor because it deals with more than just the Top of Henry VIII' people it is called "The King's Servants".  http://www.tudortailor.com/bookshop.htm

Also if you check out Tudor Costume and Fashion By Herbert Norris, you will see some drawings and information regarding Dr Butts and how he would have worn his clothing.
http://www.amazon.com/Tudor-Costume-Fashion-Herbert-Norris/dp/0486298450/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1247505759&sr=8-1

[PrincessSara]

As I said in my first post, I have seen the portrait of Dr. Butts.  What I don't know is what a doctor would have worn.  I know it would be some variant of the "scholar" outfit (a la Thomas More) but I'm not too sure about the particulars.

[GirlChris]

Okay, I have to get this out of the way before I can usefully contribute to this conversation.

Dr. Butts

TEE HEE HEE HEE!!!!

(sorry)

Here's another portrait that is supposedly Dr. Butts
http://collection.aucklandartgallery.govt.nz/collection/results.do%3Bjsessionid=682D093A6ABAAC7F8C2FF844A4342D1D?view=detail&db=object&id=9382

And another...
http://www.photos.com/en/search/close-up?oid=5273375&hoid=234449e2d92d5cb5785979bdf1557559

Even if they aren't him, they are probably doctors of some variety. The first one shows a fur lined collar, so he's probably going to be showing some wealth, though he'd still probably be all in black.

As for accessories, what about a pomander? I know that plague doctors believed that the sweet smelling herbs would help keep disease away.

[Cilean]

As I said in my first post, I have seen the portrait of Dr. Butts.  What I don't know is what a doctor would have worn.  I know it would be some variant of the "scholar" outfit (a la Thomas More) but I'm not too sure about the particulars.

Sara?

That is why I gave you 2 recommendations to look at for Scholarly garb.  The new book from Tudor Tailor is going into detail about all sorts of life in Henry's Court and beyond and the link I sent from Norris' book has some great information on Scholarly Clothing.


I am a little confused....I thought that is what you were asking about.

Cilean 

[PrincessSara]

I have Herbert Norris' book, I just...can't find it.    (how does one lose a 900 page book?)  I will look into getting the new Tudor Tailor book as well, but I don't want to spend a whole lot of money on this since my dad doesn't really care if every garment is completely historically documentable - I'm pretty much just dressing him up cause I think he needs a costume and he's getting a little interested in it since he accompanies me to every faire.  So I'm looking to do something that's mostly HA but not quite as labour-intensive as something 100% HA.