The Armour Archive

Excuse my ignorance but what are the coif like head pieces with attached straps that tie together under the chin called and made of? I was told they were used to prevent the catching of nits (I have no idea if this is a fact). were they worn as a style, protect against elements, pad helmets??? what form did they take at about the turn of the 15th C (give or take 15 years).

Thanks for any information.

Funnily enough, they're called coifs. Probably made of linen, as they seem to be fairly thin fabric, from the illustrations. I can't believe they had any effect on nits (which, by the way are actually eggs - the eggs of lice, which can crawl anywhere). The Maciejowski Bible shows several with what appear to be lines of quilting, suggesting that some, at least were padded.

I don't know of any at the turn of the 15th century, but they were common pretty much all the way through the 13th century, and Breughel shows at least one in a painting from about the second decade of the 16th century - perhaps this means that they continued all the way through, but this woulod be better know by those who specialise in this period.

With the exception of clergy coifs seem to be totally out of style in the late 14th century. Hoods and hats take their place and starting about 1390s to 1400 hoods seem to be going out and hats seem to be the thing.

James B. wrote:With the exception of clergy coifs seem to be totally out of style in the late 14th century.

And of doges, under their phrygian caps.
http://www.abcgallery.com/T/titian/titian50.html - 1545
http://www.abcgallery.com/T/titian/titian83.html - 1553
http://www.abcgallery.com/T/titian/titian97.html - 1555-ish

Doge without phrygian cap, but wearing armour and coif.
http://cgfa.sunsite.dk/titian/titian32.jpg - 1575-76

Chaperons seemed to hang on with elder statesmen, scholars, and such.

I've started a project page about period headwear, so far consisting mostly of period images (or links to them) that feature interesting headwear, particularly for men. - "No Hat Upon His Head" -http://northernelectric.ca/medieval/hats/hats.htm