A quick question about "historical" greetings

[Toby Frost]

We are in a mock-late-Renaissance setting, somewhere between (very vaguely) 1500 - 1600, although I'm happy to bend the rules as feels appropriate.

Two women of approximately equal social status and age find themselves alone (for reasons explained in the plot) at a social event. Neither knows the other, although A is an admirer of B's paintings. How would they greet each other? Would they bow?

 

[Susan Boulton]

Maybe incline their heads in recognition at first before speaking.
There was something called the,"language of the fan", but is more 18th 19th century. But you might be able to include something of this.
The language of the fan | All Hand Fans

 

[crystal haven]

I would also have thought a dip of the head.

 

[Juliana]

"language of the fan"

I love this!!! Any idea if they used any of this in 'Dangerous Liaisons'? I remember a lot of fan movements in the movie...

Toby, I like the idea of a head dip.

 

[The Judge]

No bowing, as that's a masculine courtesy greeting, unless one of them is something of a rule-breaker/eccentric and wants to be seen to be so.

I'm pretty sure it would usually be a curtsey by the lower ranked woman to the higher -- the depth and style of the curtsey depending on the respective ranks I'd have said ie a low curtsey is a sign of greater respect than a quick dip-down, therefore extended to someone of much higher rank (well, that's how I'm going with it!). The higher ranked woman would be the one to start the conversation.

Where they are equal in rank, they might both curtsey to the same degree and it would be the older woman who speaks first. But I think in reality they would know who was the superior. Even if they had never spoken together, they would surely know of each other, and therefore where they stood in the social hierarchy and/or favour with the Crown/despot. If they were total strangers, then they would still probably be able to assess who was superior, in the same way we automatically size people up depending on what they are wearing, how they speak etc, since every thing they wore would proclaim social standing, not just wealth. And if the artist is working for money, she's likely to be down the social scale if the other woman is middle class or above.

An inclination of the head might work if they are of truly equal rank, but to me is usually something done in acknowledgement by the higher ranked person to the lower.

 

[Phyrebrat]

@Susan Boulton thank you for that link! I wanted to give my second year BTEC students a good stimulus for our (old school) vogue dance project and this is perfect!

pH

 

[Susan Boulton]

@Susan Boulton thank you for that link! I wanted to give my second year BTEC students a good stimulus for our (old school) vogue dance project and this is perfect!

pH

You are welcome I was going to use it in Oracle, but found I was writing a few hundred words about waving a fan and it got a bit too much.