Tippet

Tippet worn by St. John Fisher, catholic martyr, early 16th century. Painting by Hans Holbein the Younger. Tippet worn by St. John Fisher, catholic martyr, early 16th century. Painting by Hans Holbein the Younger.

A tippet is a garment worn over the shoulders and around the neck. It is normally made out of a long, narrow piece of cloth, fur or similar material. It has been one of the religious garments in the Western world since at least the medieval period, but is also worn in secular situations.

During the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, many European tippets were made of embroidered net, lace, muslin and so forth. It should also be noted that in the late fifteenth century the word was used for a cape or short cloak and may have been related to the pelerine.

Sources:

  • NETHERTON, Robin (2012). 'Tippet', in: Gale Owen-Crocker, Elizabeth Coatsworth and Maria Hayward (eds.), Encyclopedia of Medieval Dress and Textiles of the British Isles, 450-1450. Leiden: Brill, pp. 585-587.
  • Shorter Oxford English Dictionary: ‘Tippet’.

Digital source of illustration (retrieved 9 July 2016).

GVE

Last modified on Wednesday, 05 October 2016 11:14