{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O251220"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O251220/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2019MB1328/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2019MB1328/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2019MB1328","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2010EB2758","copyright":"©Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2010EB2757","copyright":"©Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O251220/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O251220","accessionNumber":"756-1902","objectType":"Coif","titles":[],"summaryDescription":"This coif is a fine example of blackwork, a style of needlework popular in England in the late 16th and early 17th centuries.  It was worked with a single colour of silk, usually black, but also blue, green or red, on linen.  Like many examples of blackwork, this coif is embellished with silver-gilt thread. The motifs are filled with counted-thread stitches arranged to create repeating geometric designs.  This style of blackwork is characteristic of the 16th century.  Unlike many coifs in the V&A’s collections, this example retains its original stitching at the top.\r\n\r\nUntil 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.","physicalDescription":"A linen coif embroidered with black silk in stem and back stitch, and silver-gilt thread in plaited braid stitch.  The pattern consists of silver-gilt scrolling stems bearing leaves and flowers with geometrical, counted thread infills in black silk. There is a casing at the lower edge. The tight circle of gathers at the crown, embroidered over, is original.  A modern cotton lining has been added later.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Unknown","id":"A1848"},"association":{"text":"","id":""},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"linen (material)","id":"AAT14069"},{"text":"silk thread","id":"x30127"},{"text":"silver-gilt thread","id":"x30492"}],"techniques":[{"text":"hand-sewn","id":"AAT257459"},{"text":"embroidered","id":"AAT53653"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Linen, black silk thread, silver-gilt thread; hand-sewn and hand-embroidered","categories":[{"text":"Clothing","id":"THES48975"},{"text":"Fashion","id":"THES48957"},{"text":"Hats and headwear","id":"THES48943"},{"text":"Embroidery","id":"THES48960"},{"text":"Europeana Fashion Project","id":"THES265804"}],"styles":[{"text":"Elizabethan","id":"AAT21036"}],"collectionCode":{"text":"T&F","id":"THES48601"},"images":["2019MB1328","2010EB2758","2010EB2757"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"001","id":"THES327384"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Coif","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"England","id":"x28826"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"1575-1600","earliest":"1575-01-01","latest":"1600-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Length","value":"22.7","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"approx.","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"19.5","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"approx.","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"Purchased. Registered File number 23053/1902 and 89728/1902.","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"A woman's coif of linen, 1575-1600, English; Blackwork with silver gilt thread","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[{"text":"flowers","id":"x35571"}],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["756-1902"],"accessionNumberNum":"756","accessionNumberPrefix":"","accessionYear":1902,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2025-07-28","recordCreationDate":"2009-06-23","availableToBook":true}}