The Leonfeldner Schnittbuch

The Leonfeldner Schnittbuch, currently resides in the Stadtmuseum in Linz. A microfilm copy is also kept at the Berliner Lipperheide museum. (Many thanks and kudos to Markus Baur for helping me to get a copy of this manuscript!) I don't have much information about this manuscript; what I do have comes mostly from Ingeborg Petrascheck-Heim's article "Tailor's Masterpiece-books" in the Journal of Costume vol. 3.

This book has been dated by Ingeborg to c. 1590, although I haven't been able to find details on how this date was determined. According to Ingeborg, this book was probably used by journeyman tailors as a catalog of items they need to know how to make before they can become masters of their trade. Because of this, some of the garments may be "traditional" and someone old-fashioned for the date of the book. The peascods on some of the doublets offer a little help with the dating.

There is some interesting construction throughout: the neckholes on page 9, the large triangular sleeve cutout on page 12, and the especially interesting (to me, anyway) items on pages 25, 35, 36 and 37. The two discernable women's gowns are on pages 36 and 37. As for what's going on with their waistline, my guess is that the bodice seams were sewn together, the skirt seams sewn together, and the excess at the waistline pleated to the waist and sewn down. I've seen some German gowns that resemble this cut, albeit from the first half of the 16th century.

I have yet to decipher the handwriting; currently I can figure out about one word in four. I am looking for someone versed in 16th century German paleography and 16th centuury German costume terms to help decipher this manuscript. Even one deciphered page to use as a key would be immensely helpful. If you know anyone who might be interested in this or have some input on the content of the pages, please email me.


Page 1: introduction

Page 2: Tent

Page 3: A Tent with one pole
or two poles

Page 4: A Tent with one pole
or two poles, cont.

Page 5: A Woman's Saddle Cover

 


Page 6: A saddle blanket

 


Page 7: A Horse Hood

Page 8: A Spanish Tourney Cover

Page 9: A Spanish Lackey/
Servant's Dress

Page 10:Man's Short Gown

Page 11:A Little Gown

 


Page 12:A Servant's Gown

Page 13: A Prelate's Gown

Page 14: A Doctor's Gown

Page 15: A Burgher's Gown

Page 16: A Woman's Ropa

 


Page 17: A Loose Gown

Page 18: A Loose Gown, cont.

Page 19: A Loose Gown with
a gathered back

Page 20: Loose Gown, cont.

Page 21: A Spanish Cloak

 


Page 22: Hungarian Mende

Page 23: Mende with no
Shoulder seam

Page 24:Mende with gussets

Page 25: A Hungarian Gown

Page 26: Liturgical Cloak

Page 27: A Friar's Robe

Page 28: An Altar cloth

 


Page 29: Levitical Gown

Page 30: An Alb

Page 31: A Chasuble

 


Page 32: Mourning Cloak

Page 33: A Cloak Gown

Page 34: A Beggar's Jacket

Page 35: A Carter's Jacket

Page 36: A Woman's Cloak

 


Page 37: A Woman's Gown

Page 38: A Bride's Little Schaube

Page 39: A Skirted Doublet

Page 40: A Skirted Doublet


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