Fichu
Unknown Artist
ca. 1770
Medium
cotton
Classification
Fichu
Culture
British
Department
Costume Institute
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Purchase, Gifts in memory of Elizabeth N. Lawrence, 1984
Accession Number
1984.147
Art Historical Context
Step back to the refined world of 18th-century with this delicate *Fichu*, a triangular cotton kerchief dating to around 1770. Worn by women of fashion, it was draped elegantly over the shoulders, crossed at the chest, and into the bodice to provide modest coverage while accentuating the low necklines of gowns. As a staple of Georgian-era attire, the fichu embodied the era's blend of practicality and poise, often chosen for its lightweight versatility in both day and evening ensembles. Crafted from cotton—a material gaining prominence in British textiles due to expanding trade and early indus...