In a previous blog post I mentioned that I had digitally erased a pair of antlers that Miss Mawer was sporting on a hat. And I quickly put them back on when I realised I was messing with a historical archive. It did get me wondering, though, what the antlers might have been for.
From some quick research, I saw that antlers can be linked to Greek myths, eg, to the Ceryneian Hind. This was a very special, magical deer which had golden antlers.
However, the antlers on Miss Mawer’s hat don’t look anything like real antlers, they look more like a soft, felted version – rather pretty. This version of antlers is more akin to the Middle Ages, rather than Ancient Greece. More ‘fool,’ than god. The medieval world used antlers to mark someone outside the social order—a truth-teller operating under the guise of absurdity. Something like the court jester.
I can only guess at the reason for the photo of Miss Mawer looking very pretty in a funny hat. Presumably it was a stage costume, but for now, it is another in a long line of Miss Mawer Mysteries!