In British Costume form earliest times to 1820, by Mrs Charles H. Ashdown, it states on page86 that earlier than 1460-1480, the steeple Headress was popular. This style which was more flat on top in England was called HenninsIt further states that it is attributed to Anne of Bavaria, Queen to Charles VI of France. The word Hennis was " forcibly derived by some French writers from the old verb gehenner(modern gener), to trouble or incommode." Apparently the way to wear it was at a 45 degree angle on your head. I have no idea how accurate this is. I do know that it was a very popular headress on the continent during that time. I also know that there is a smaller type that was worn in Persia. The ones in Franch were very tall and pointed. The ones English were also very tall and looked like elongated flower pots. i hope this hewlps. LynnI
________________________________ From: "Nordtorp-Madson, Michelle A." <[email protected]> To: Historical Costume <[email protected]> Sent: Mon, January 18, 2010 9:08:48 PM Subject: Re: [h-cost] The term "hennin" Perrine and Mane's book on costume gives one explanation, but since they don't footnote anything, it's difficult to know if they are right. I know that metal headpieces of the same shape are found in pre-and Islamic graves in central Asia. One source I have read (and I cannot remember which, since it was years ago) said it came to Europe due to contacts with the Islamic countries. ________________________________________ From: [email protected] [[email protected]] On Behalf Of Robin Netherton [[email protected]] Sent: Monday, January 18, 2010 6:42 PM To: Historical Costume Subject: Re: [h-cost] The term "hennin" otsisto wrote: > I do not know why you are looking it up in OED as it isn't English. (Did the > English wear hennins?) The word is used in modern English (and it's in the OED as such), and the OED gives etymologies, so I was hoping for a clue -- but as I noted, OED is not my reference of choice for costume terms, just what I happened to have at hand. I'm not at a library today. I was rather hoping someone had already trodden this ground before, so I could give my inquirer an accepted answer. But it's not a question I'm going to be able to take time to research, and I don't expect anyone else to spend a lot of time on it. > I am not 100% sure where I saw the info but I believe > it is Old French or possibly of Neitherland origin. I vaguely remember > something about hennin and a cockscomb association. > I think the modern Dutch word for cockscomb is hanekam. I am unsure what the > medieval word would be. That's as good an idea as any, and probably more likely than "hent" or "henne." Julian was probably right to look at medieval Flemish, but that's way out of my range of references at hand. Overall, though, it's sounding like there isn't a previously researched, accepted etymology. Rather, it might be good subject for a research project. In this case, for someone else, not me! Regardless of etymology, though, even one contemporary inventory reference that uses the word would answer my inquirer's question, as she was told the word wasn't actually used for the headdress in the period, except perhaps as a term of derision. --Robin _______________________________________________ h-costume mailing list [email protected] http://mail.indra.com/mailman/listinfo/h-costume _______________________________________________ h-costume mailing list [email protected] http://mail.indra.com/mailman/listinfo/h-costume _______________________________________________ h-costume mailing list [email protected] http://mail.indra.com/mailman/listinfo/h-costume
