Topic Description: Costume and Dress

"COSTUME AND DRESS" in the Medici Granducal Archive focuses primarily on the courtly environment. This includes: social and ceremonial usage in dress; the clothing of the entire granducal household, including servants; the development of styles or modes of dress and their diffusion nationally and internationally; liturgical vestments; perfume and cosmetics; hair dressing and hair ornaments; rosary beads.

Detailed descriptions of costumes or articles of dress (excluding JEWELRY) are given particular attention, especially if they document period terminology. Vague or passing references (for example, "Mandatemi due camice, per favore") are entered selectively, when the context renders them potentially informative.

Many references are cross-indexed under "COSTUME AND DRESS", "ART LEGISLATION" (for sumptuary laws), "LUXURY TEXTILES", "THEATER AND FESTIVAL" or "STATE GIFTS". See also "JEWELS AND JEWELRY". Tailors, shoemakers, etc. who are identifiable by name are indexed as "ARTISTS".

References to unnamed or otherwise obscure artisans of this kind who worked for the court ("Giuseppe calzolaio mio") are generally indexed under "COSTUME AND DRESS", even when they appear in contexts not directly relevant to this activity ("il sarto spagnolo è morto con tutti i conforti della fede".)

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