Shirt, Slit Neck

Simple, loose fitting shirt with tubular sleeves, underarm gusset and simple 'boat' neckline. Cut is based on the Rogart shirt which was found in a grave near Springhill, Knockan, Parish of Rogart, Sutherland (Scotland) and has been tentatively dated to the 14th C.

Particularly fine examples of this shirt style may be seen on the condemned in Dierick Bouts' "Trial of Emperor Otto III", and in the illustration of 'Water tilting' in the Hours of the Duchess of Bourgogne, about 1450 (MS76/1362, Museum Condi). Although it may be worn with almost any 14th or 15th C. garment, this style of shirt is particularly suited to be worn under the 'gippon 'a mahoitres', where the neckline of the shirt lies at the base of the throat just above the top points of the doublet. Examples of this may be seen on Sir John Donne in the Kidwelly Triptych, on the male patron in Petrus Christus' 'St. Eligius' and on Phillip the Good and Charles the Bold in the 'Chronique de Hainault'. No visible exterior machine stitching.

Pattern courtesy of Marc Carlson. Used with permission.

Ivory Linen.