Coif
1610-1620 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This coif is embroidered in a style known as whitework, using white embroidery threads on white linen. It is edged with linen bobbin lace and demonstrates a more unusual way of gathering at the back.
Until the end of the 17th century the coif was informal headwear for women. Plain linen versions were worn by the working-class. Middle-class and aristocratic women wore elaborately decorated coifs. It would have been worn by itself indoors, or with a hat on top in public. In Western Europe it was customary for both men and women to cover their heads in public up 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.
Until the end of the 17th century the coif was informal headwear for women. Plain linen versions were worn by the working-class. Middle-class and aristocratic women wore elaborately decorated coifs. It would have been worn by itself indoors, or with a hat on top in public. In Western Europe it was customary for both men and women to cover their heads in public up 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, hand-sewn and hand-embroidered |
| Brief description | Woman's coif, England, 1610-20; linen, whitework, floral embroidery, bobbin lace edging |
| Physical description | A coif of linen, embroidered with white linen thread in chain, satin and buttonhole stitches. It was made with a pattern of scrolling stems with pomegranates, strawberries and other fruits. The lower edges of the front of the coif including the cheek pieces are decorated wityh a narrow border of scalloped linen bobbin lace. Along the bottom of the coif are a series of loops in white linen thread. To the bottom of the coif at the front are attached two tapes for tying. The original gathering at the crown of the coif has been unpicked and left open. |
| Dimensions |
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| Style | |
| Credit line | Bequeathed by Miss D E Norris |
| Object history | Registered File number 1963/1875B |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | This coif is embroidered in a style known as whitework, using white embroidery threads on white linen. It is edged with linen bobbin lace and demonstrates a more unusual way of gathering at the back. Until the end of the 17th century the coif was informal headwear for women. Plain linen versions were worn by the working-class. Middle-class and aristocratic women wore elaborately decorated coifs. It would have been worn by itself indoors, or with a hat on top in public. In Western Europe it was customary for both men and women to cover their heads in public up 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.146-1963 |
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| Record created | June 24, 2009 |
| Record URL |
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