Steampunk Plague Doctor Costume

I created a male and a female Steampunk Plague Doctor costume. Therefore i used old leather aprons, old medical instruments and various leather and created a leather mask. The Belt was made of an old transmission strap, the walking stick i found in the forest and put a skull and some gadgets on it.

scary Halloween to you all...

Step 1: The Plague Masks

During the 17th century Plague period the "Plague Doctors" were paid by the towns. The beaks of their masks were filled with incense or herbs that should kept out the "bad air", and prevented the plague doctor from getting sick. But of Course, in fact that did not really work and so most of the plague doctors died.

The mask i made of thin goatskin. The beak was created of pieces from an old transmission belt. I sewed it together with steel wire. For the eyes i took tea strainers and on each side a lower jaw of an boar was fixed.

The second mask has an optical eye, made of old parts from an microscope and an iris lense from an camera.

Step 2: The Belt and the Instruments

The doctor wears an old leather apron and an very wide belt, made of an old transmission belt. I created small leather clews and fixed old medical instruments on the belt.

Step 3: The Wooden Stick

Plague doctors often had a kind of a walking stick, that was used to prod patients so that they didn't actually had to be touched. The wooden stick i found in the forest, its just a nice piece of old wood. I fixed an animal skull with horns on it an decorated with small things like claws, bells and leather stripes. The skull and the bones i found few month ago in the forest.

Thanks for your interest!
I wish you a creepy Halloween :)

Alex

If you like, feel free to visit my blog on FB

www.facebook.com/steampunkartwork

www.skulls-n-gears.com

Comments

[insomniacakes]

This is amazing, but it's more of something you'd see on Pinterest, Tumblr, or maybe Etsy because there's no instructions on how to make it. You only added to the costume and facts about the Doctors, rather than explaining how you made the costume. I'd love to make this for a Con or Halloween, but I can't, which sucks because I love the Doctors and the Steampunk style/aesthetic.

[rainingfiction]

Spooky!

[Lauren.1]

I love it! You should enter it into the contest for this year! (also, where did you get the skulls and such?)

[ImperfectP]

The final result is out of this world, really. Great job!

But, still, I would have appreciate even more this instructable if there were more... instructions.

[steampunker_de]

Thanks! Well, of Course i would give you more information, but there is not really more to say. Its not very time-consuming, because it is just an arrangement of materials and gadgets. The most time you need is for creating the mask. But also a mask is not more than putting some leather pieces together and sew them with steel-wire. If you have detailed questions, feel free to ask. I will do the best to satisfy your thirst for knowledge. :)

best wishes,

Alex

[julietar1]

Please help me i need a template of the masks im having troubles with it

[julietar1]

Do you have the template? I really need it. By the way this is one of the most awesome custome i've ever seen.

[LiamD26]

Amazing costume! I've been planing to play a plaque doctor on a future larp and was wondering if you have a pattern or anything else useful for the "rag" shirt that the male doctor is wearing?

[SKS Props]

These look really great!! I just wish you had progress pics and steps to show how you made the masks and all of the goodies since this is Instructables. Great thing is you can always go back and edit your post to put in those steps

[Mey Lynn]

The amount of detail in this is so incredible. It's like straight out of a movie detailed! Perfectly weathered too. Amazing job :D

[steampunker_de]

Thanks a lot!

[aboyce1]

Wow. I agree, best Plague Doctor EVER. Your collection of medical instruments is the clever touch that takes this from great to "holy crap!"

Black fingernails and greyish powder on the tops of your hands would be a nice touch, and still leave hands free to work. Thanks for sharing, truly amazing work.

[steampunker_de]

thanks! :)

[Texas Marauder]

These are great. Not an insrutctable, because there are no instructions. This should be on Etsy, or Pinterest, not really here.

[Mr. Noack]

Amazing!!!! Dark Crystal meets Nine.

[NathanSellers]

These are some pretty incredible costumes. I'd love to see more of a step by step tutorial on the process.

[mrcaderly]

Amazing costumes! Love me! Thank you for sharing with us!! :-)

[Mary Suu]

This is so scare to me!

[blueangelical]

I frikin love this, the colours the fabrics used, everything. Absolutely brilliant well done.

[robolimbo]

Very nice work. They look like some of my nightmares!!