The "3-cornered kerch" that several travelers reports describe on 16th century Highland Scottish women was more or less the triangular head scarf you're limiting to the 1940s. We only have descriptions, no pictures, but the descriptions are pretty unmistakable..It was also said to be remarkably graceful. It's only one of many thi9ngs you can do with the ubiquitous "yard square" of linen commonly used by 16th century working women.
MaggiRos Maggie Secara ~A Compendium of Common Knowledge 1558-1603 ISBN 978-0-9818401-0-9 Available at http://elizabethan.org/compendium/paperback.html See our gallery at http://www.zazzle.com/popinjaypress On Thu, May 28, 2009 at 4:43 AM, <[email protected]> wrote: > > Sorry, but that description of a 'headkerchief'* resembles more of the > 1940s, or an early modern neckerchief, than a head covering from any part > of > medieval times. > > *never heard the term 'headkerchief' before incidentally, although of > course it was known as a 'coverchief' - I've always used veil for the bit > that > goes over your head (in earlier periods of one piece headdresses, this > being the only part), and wimple for the bit that covers your throat (after > it > becomes a separate piece). > > > Coif is indeed the accepted term for a small cap - although in theory it > could be used to mean any headdress, I suppose, since it comes from > 'coiffure'. And it's not only a female garment - in medieval times the > caps that > men wore are referred to as coifs too. > > > Debbie > > > > > > In a message dated 27/05/2009 23:58:15 GMT Standard Time, > [email protected] writes: > > On Wed, 27 May 2009 19:10:45 +0100 Anne <[email protected] > > > writes: > > Could you describe more fully what you are terming a "coif" and a > > "headkerchief"? > > You bet! :-) Coif--the ubiquitous little cap-like thing everyone wore. > Headkerchief--I suppose we'ld call them scarves nowadays. Take a square > of fabric, fold it into a triangle, place on head, tie two points > together in the back. > > > _______________________________________________ h-costume mailing list [email protected] http://mail.indra.com/mailman/listinfo/h-costume
