Head protector
Unknown Artist
late 18th century
Medium
silk
Classification
Head Protector
Culture
Swiss
Department
Costume Institute
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Mrs. DeWitt Clinton Cohen, 1939
Accession Number
C.I.39.61.7
Art Historical Context
This exquisite silk *Head Protector* from late 18th-century Switzerland offers a glimpse into everyday rural life and cultural traditions. Crafted by an unknown artist, this delicate piece from the Costume Institute at The Metropolitan Museum of Art was designed for practical protection—likely shielding women from sun, wind, or rain during agricultural labor—while reflecting the refined textile skills of the era. Silk, a luxurious and labor-intensive medium, was woven or manipulated to create lightweight yet durable fabric, underscoring the value placed on both functionality and elegance in Sw...