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Forehead cloth
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Forehead cloth
- Place of origin:
England, Great Britain (made)
- Date:
1600-1625 (made)
- Artist/Maker:
Unknown (production)
- Materials and Techniques:
Linen, embroidered with white linen thread
- Credit Line:
Bequeathed by Miss C. M. Slee
- Museum number:
T.57A-1947
- Gallery location:
In Storage
Like a man's nightcap, a woman's coif and forehead cloth were informal headwear. The forehead cloth was worn under the coif (a small close-fitting cap), and could be decorated to complement it.
In Western Europe it was customary for both men and women to cover their heads outdoors until the 1960s. A hat was an essential part of respectable dress and, from a health perspective, head coverings were considered necessary to protect against chills and disease.
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