Hood thumbnail 1
Hood thumbnail 2
+30
images
Not currently on display at the V&A

Hood

1610-1620 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Although a few finely worked linen hoods survive in museum collections, they are very rarely seen in portraits of the late 16th and early 17th century. It is possible that they were outdoor and/or middle-class accessories and therefore seldom appear in Tudor and Jacobean portraiture which emphasises the formal dress of the aristocracy.

This hood is very modestly adorned with insertion work (bobbin lace worked between two pieces of linen) and a bobbin lace edging, but the quality of the linen and the sewing is extremely fine. The short gap between the crown of the hood and the top of the insertions suggest that it was worn with a ruff.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Linen; hand-sewn with hand-made bobbin lace
Brief description
Woman's linen hood with bobbin lace insertions and edging, England, 1610-20.
Physical description
An unlined woman's hood of plain white linen, cut in two separate halves, with a triangular gussets iinserted on each side. There is an insertion of bobbin lace at each seam and the edges of the hood are similarly trimmed with a bobbin-made lace edging. The lace is simply made in thick linen and is probably English.

The short gap between the crown of the hood and the top of the insertions suggest that it was worn with a ruff.
The thread count of the linen is approximately 110 by 95 threads per inch.
Dimensions
  • Approx length: 49.5cm
  • Width: 59.0cm
Style
Credit line
Given by Lord Cowdray
Object history
Donated by Lord Cowdray in 1970, together with a early 20th century clothing belonging to Annie, 1st Viscountess Cowdray, items of 19thc dress, some 18th century accessories and 17th century baby linen
Summary
Although a few finely worked linen hoods survive in museum collections, they are very rarely seen in portraits of the late 16th and early 17th century. It is possible that they were outdoor and/or middle-class accessories and therefore seldom appear in Tudor and Jacobean portraiture which emphasises the formal dress of the aristocracy.

This hood is very modestly adorned with insertion work (bobbin lace worked between two pieces of linen) and a bobbin lace edging, but the quality of the linen and the sewing is extremely fine. The short gap between the crown of the hood and the top of the insertions suggest that it was worn with a ruff.
Bibliographic reference
Lucas, Armelle, 'Linen Hood', in North, Susan and Jenny Tiramani, eds, Seventeenth-Century Women’s Dress Patterns, vol.1, London: V&A Publishing, 2011, pp.120-123
Collection
Accession number
T.206-1970

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

Record createdJune 24, 2009
Record URL
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest