1600 / 1625, United Kingdom

1600 / 1625, United Kingdom

Identifier
T.76-1911
Collection
Technique
Depiction
Dimension
17.6 cm (length)
37.2 cm (width)
Production time
Production place
Type of object

Description

A forehead cloth of linen embroidered with coloured silks in shades of green, blue, pink, red, yellow and white in detached buttonhole stitch; and silver-gilt thread in chain, plaited braid stitches and couching. The pattern consists of silver-gilt scrolling stems bearing coloured leaves, strawberries, roses, other flowers, a bird and butterflies. The cloth is embroidered around the edge with green silk in buttonhole stitch. Part of a woman's forehead cloth of linen, 1600-1625, British; embroidered with coloured silks and metal thread in a pattern of flowers, birds, insects (joined to Circ.265-1911) A forehead cloth was part of women’s headwear in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. It was usually worn with a coif and inventories from the period record matching coifs and forehead clothes being made and bought together. However, it is still unclear just how the forehead cloth was worn, as there are very few portraits illustrating both. This forehead cloth is embroidered with coloured silks and silver-gilt thread, and probably once had a matching coif. The repeating pattern of flowers, fruits, birds and insects is typical of the naturalistic embroidery designs of the late 16th and early 17th centuries.