Coifs at the V&A Museum

A selection of late 16th and early 17th century women's coifs on display at the Victoria & Albert Museum. Several of these coifs are similar to coifs in the Burrell Collection.

A coif, early 17th c., worked in black silk and gilt thread in a variety of stitches. A thread would be passed through the loops at the bottom of the neck to gather the coif at the base of the neck.


English coif, c. 1600. Black silk on linen. The design contains motifs worked in counted thread connected by spiraling vines. Worked in stem-stitch, chain stitch and double running stitch. The front edge is trimmed with fine lace.

English coif, early 17th century. A pattern of holly leaves in black silk and gilt on linen, with buttonhole stitching around the front edge. It's very similar to a coif listed below.

English coif, early 17th century. This coif was printed with a pattern, possibly copperplate printed. Some of the lines have been embellished with silver gilt thread, couched down. The pattern on this coif is very complex and sophisticated.

c. 1600 coif at the V&A Museum. Black silk and couched gilt thread embroidered in a design of holly berries on a linen background, with buttonhole stitching around the front edge.

Late 16th Century Coif at the V&A Museum. Gilt thread and black silk in plaited braid, back, chain and double running stitch on fine white linen. Museum No T.11-1948

Late 16th century coif at the V&A. Black silk and gold metal thread on white linen. Backstitch, chain stitch, buttonhole stitch and plaited stitch used, along with speckling.

An English coif, c. 1600, made from a rectangular panel of embroidery. Gilt thread and black silk in back, buttonhole and interlacing stitch on linen.

English coif c. 1600. Gilt thread and black silk on linen, in a design of holly berries. The gilt thread is couched down, and the black thread is sewn with double running stitch. The front and top edges are finished with buttonhole stitching.

More coifs from the Burrell Collection can be seen on my page on 16th & 17th c. coifs


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