An Ancient Habit of a Countrywoman of Friesland

by Thomas Jefferys

Featured in the iconic work A Collection of the Dresses of Different Nations by Thomas Jefferys from 1757, this print provides an intriguing insight into the history of Friesland’s identity.

The engraving shows an “Ancient Habit” of either a lady or peasant woman from Friesland (today’s Netherlands and Germany). The style of the illustration is characterized by the formal elegance of the eighteenth-century adaptation of medieval and Renaissance Frisian dress.

The main characteristics usually included in this collection are the distinctive Frisian headwear, a prototype of the later gold oorijzers, and voluminous skirts that indicate wealth and adaptability to the harsh conditions of northern Europe. This publication became one of the most important works for documenting “folk costume” prior to the industrial revolution, which made mass-produced clothing universal worldwide.