Hairnets such as this one have been found in archaeological digs and gravesites dating from the 13th century onwards in Germany and England. Contemporary illustrations from these two countries show that the hair net was an important fashion accessory. When it is seen in illumination, it is often worn with a wimple/barbette and fillet. The extant hairnets were made from silk and edged with bands of either finger-weaving or tablet-weaving. The gauge on these nets could be extremely fine. The nets could either be worked as a square or in the round. It is quite likely that this technique was also used to make hair nets in later periods as well.
What to call these nets? Nets or cauls seem to be the words used in period. The word "snood" used referring to a hairnet is a 20th century misunderstanding; a snood originally was a type of hair ribbon.
Left: St. John’s College, Cambridge Ms K 26 f.231 (1270-80) shows the highly fashionable hairnet, barbette, and fillet on the serpent which tempts Adam and Eve (a good clue that this was considered a fashionable style in this period).
A 14th century mesh hairnet, reproduced at scale (Crowfoot et al, Textiles and Clothing). The basic construction did not change from the 13th to the 14th century.
Copyright 1998, Susan Carroll-Clark. All rights reserved.
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