Hat, Chaperone, 15th Century

This impressive hat with its large roll and intricately cut cock's comb and tail was popular in the middle of the 15th C. This style evolved from the way dandies of an earlier age would roll the face edge of their hood and wear it as a hat.

Popular in England and across Europe, this style is seen in visual sources such as "Le Livre du Cueur d'Amours Espris" and “The Book of the Tournament” by Duke Rene' of Anjou (1457), as well as Petrus Christus’ “St Elegius in his workshop”, among others.

Edward Grimston (Petrus Christus, 1446, Earl of Verulam Collection, London)

This style was occasionally seen on women, as on this German statue:





Stylishly cut edges on cockscomb and liripipe. Completely hand made, no visible exterior machine stitching.

(Marshal of the Field Michael Carroll wears the chaperone with panache at the 2010 Tournament of the Phoenix. Photo courtesy of Gar Travis)