Fashion & Costume · 19th century
€ 140
One of a kind: this is the sheet in the photographs. Ships from Langweer, the Netherlands.
Good condition with light foxing mainly to the right margin. Central image remains bright with excellent color retention. Minor toning and one faint round stamp impression visible near center.
Traditional Headdresses from Italy and France: Florence, Ostia, Castà – 1823
This hand-colored lithograph, marked “No. 5,” is the fifth plate in a captivating 1823 series published in London by Baldwin, Cradock & Joy, illustrating traditional headdresses from across Europe. With a focus on Italian regional fashion, but also including a figure from Languedoc (France), the print showcases the diversity and creativity of 19th-century women's headwear in both ceremonial and everyday contexts.
At upper left, a woman from Montefiascone wears a simple yet elegant white veil draped loosely over her hair and shoulders. Her scarlet sleeve ribbons and golden earring add a dash of vibrancy to an otherwise modest ensemble. In contrast, the central figure from Lariana dons one of the most dramatic headpieces on the sheet: a large, bright yellow hat embellished with blue ribbon and multiple ornamental loops. Her necklace with a red cross pendant suggests a religious or festival connection.
To the upper right, the figure from Languedoc is rendered in profile wearing a striking purple bonnet with vertical ridges, trimmed with white lace, and set against a yellow collar. This French addition provides an interesting cross-cultural comparison within a primarily Italian series.
The bottom row continues with a woman from Florence, shown from behind with her dark hair intricately braided and adorned with a long pink and white ribbon that drapes down her back—an emblem of grace and femininity. The central bottom figure from Ostia wears a wide-brimmed felt hat decorated with a religious badge and green netting, indicative of coastal or market wear. Finally, the woman from Castà appears from behind with her hair gathered in a netted arrangement, pinned horizontally with golden hairpins and tied with a pink ribbon at the nape.
Together, these six studies celebrate regional craftsmanship, religious symbolism, and identity expressed through headwear—making this print a rare and richly detailed artifact of folk costume history.
Condition Report:
Good condition with light foxing mainly to the right margin. Central image remains bright with excellent color retention. Minor toning and one faint round stamp impression visible near center.
Framing Tips:
Choose a neutral wood frame—light oak or natural walnut—with an ivory mat to complement the soft palette. Ideal for pairing with other plates in this series for a harmonious costume wall display.
