Coif
1600-1625 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Like a man's nightcap, a woman's coif was informal headwear. It would have been worn by itself indoors, or underneath a hat in public. 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.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Linen, embroidered with linen thread and edged with bobbin lace |
| Brief description | Woman's coif of linen whitework, English, 1600-25 |
| Physical description | A whitework coif; linen worked with white linen thread in chain and ladder stitch, French knots, cutwork. Edged with bobbin lace |
| Gallery label | COIF
1600-1625
A woman's coif was informal headwear, but was usually elaborately decorated. This one is a fine example of whitework, a technique featuring embroidery in white thread on a white linen ground.
Linen, with cutwork and embroidered with white linen thread
England
Bequeathed by Miss C M Slee
Museum no. T.57-1947(2008) |
| Credit line | Bequeathed by Miss C. M. Slee |
| Subject depicted | |
| Summary | Like a man's nightcap, a woman's coif was informal headwear. It would have been worn by itself indoors, or underneath a hat in public. 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. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | T.57-1947 |
About this object record
Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
| Record created | December 15, 1999 |
| Record URL |
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest
