A coif and forehead cloth of linen embroidered in coloured silks and metal threads with some straw-work, spotted with spangles, with scrolling strawberries, acorns, carnations, cowslips and other flowers, interspersed with birds and insects including butterflies and snails, with snakes entwined around the central coils, the edges embroidered in green and red silk--the coif 17 x 10in. (44 x 26cm.) at widest part, the forehead cloth 15 x 7in. (39 x 19cm.), circa 1600-30, English, with recent mounting, slight wear and fading

細節

A coif and forehead cloth of linen embroidered in coloured silks and metal threads with some straw-work, spotted with spangles, with scrolling strawberries, acorns, carnations, cowslips and other flowers, interspersed with birds and insects including butterflies and snails, with snakes entwined around the central coils, the edges embroidered in green and red silk--the coif 17 x 10in. (44 x 26cm.) at widest part, the forehead cloth 15 x 7in. (39 x 19cm.), circa 1600-30, English, with recent mounting, slight wear and fading
See Colour Plate

拍品專文

Forehead cloths are generally thought to have been worn during illness: "Many weare such crosse-clothes or forehead clothes as our women use when they are sick", Fynnes Morrison, 1617. The snakes used in the pattern denote wise actions and logic and with their association with Asclepius, the Greek god of medicine, also stand for healing. This symbolism would fit with the use during illness.
See "Embroidery at the Burrell Collection 1600-1700", Liz Arthur, 1995, London, pps. 50-1.