A beauty recipe from Caterina Sforza: To make Talcho water – Eugenio Larosa
The art of personal beautification captivated Caterina Sforza as much as the political intrigues in which she was deeply involved as the ruler of her territories. The Lady of Forlì and Imola devoted a substantial part of her life to collecting and experimenting with recipes for beauty, medicine, and alchemy.
These efforts culminated in the creation of her manuscript, Experimenti, which we explored in a previous article (link).
In her workshop, Sforza’s interests extended well beyond the realm of cosmetic and medicinal remedies. Among her formulations, some of which were encrypted, were recipes for lethal poisons, powerful anaesthetics, and ambitious alchemical transformations. The exchange of information, tips, and “secrets” with other courts was extensive, reflecting the widespread fascination of the period with such esoteric knowledge.
Among her beauty recipes, many of which also served other purposes, I would like to share the following:
Recipe for Talcho Water (original text in appendix)
“Talcho is known as the star of the earth and has shiny scales. It is found on the island of Cyprus, and its colour is similar to lemon. When viewed in mass, it appears green, but when seen in the light, it resembles crystal. It possesses the following virtues, along with many others not included in this book, which any alchemist would long to discover.
First and foremost, it enhances women’s beauty and removes all marks and blemishes from the face, making a woman of sixty appear no older than twenty.
In the evening, before going to bed, take some breadcrumbs, place them in clean water, and let them soak. Then, with the soaked crumbs, thoroughly wash your hands and face. After drying with a clean cloth, take a little Talcho water and rub it between your palms, massaging it into your face. Let it dry naturally. Repeat this process in the morning upon waking. This will leave the skin miraculously smooth, radiant, and flawless, eliminating any blemishes such as pox scars, freckles, and other marks caused by illness or injury.
Additionally, Talcho water or its powdered form, if consumed with white wine, can cure those who have been poisoned. If taken on the same day, it provides protection from poison, illness, and even plague.
For damaged and unsightly pearls, thread them on a string, spacing them evenly, and immerse them in Talcho water for an hour, followed by another hour of exposure to sunlight. Once dried, repeat the process. The pearls will become remarkably beautiful, increasing in both lustre and size.
Since not all the virtues of Talcho are recorded in this manuscript, I leave space for those who may acquire further knowledge to share it. To keep such a treasure hidden would be a mortal sin. It is also said that this water can transform silver into gold and turn fake gems into perfect and genuine ones.”
Caterina Sforza, through her Experimenti, left a legacy that transcends her time, offering a testament to the intricate fusion of science, beauty, and magic in the Renaissance. Her work provides a rare insight into an era where the boundaries between science and magic were both fluid and fascinatingly intertwined.
Appendix:
“Il Talcho è la stella della terra e ha scaglie lucide. Si trova nell’isola di Cipro, e il suo colore è simile al limone. Quando lo si osserva in massa, appare verde, ma guardandolo alla luce, sembra cristallo. Ha le seguenti virtù, oltre a molte altre non menzionate in questo libro, che ogni alchimista desidererebbe conoscere. Prima di tutto, rende belle le donne e rimuove ogni segno e macchia dal viso, tanto che una donna di sessant’anni sembrerà averne venti. La sera, prima di andare a letto, prenda della mollica di pane, la metta in acqua pura e la lasci ammollo. Poi, con la mollica bagnata, lavi bene mani e viso. Dopo essersi asciugata con un panno pulito, prenda un po’ di acqua di Talcho e la metta nelle palme delle mani, massaggiando e bagnando il viso, e lasci asciugare naturalmente. Ripeta la stessa operazione al mattino appena sveglia. Questo renderà la pelle del viso bella, lucente e colorita in modo miracoloso, eliminando ogni segno e macchia come verruche, lentiggini, e qualsiasi altro segno causato da malattia o altro. Inoltre, l’acqua di Talcho o la sua polvere, se bevuta con vino bianco, può guarire chi è stato avvelenato e, se assunta quel giorno, protegge da veleni, malattie e pestilenze. Per chi avesse delle perle rovinate e brutte, mettendole su un filo distanziate l’una dall’altra e poi immergendole in questa acqua per un’ora, e successivamente esponendole al sole per un’ora, vedrà che, una volta asciutte, ripetendo l’operazione, le perle diventeranno di una bellezza straordinaria, aumentando anche in lucentezza e grandezza. Poiché le altre virtù del Talcho non sono annotate nel documento originale, lascerò spazio in questo volume affinché chiunque arrivi a questa conoscenza possa condividerla, poiché è un peccato mortale tenere nascosto un tale tesoro. Si dice anche che questa acqua possa trasformare l’argento in oro e rendere perfette e genuine le gemme false.“
Italian version of this article: https://www.caterinasforza.com/2024/06/a-fare-acqua-di-talcho-experimenti.html
A beauty recipe from Caterina Sforza: To make Talcho water – Eugenio Larosa
