An Ancient Habit of a Married Woman in Friesland

by Thomas Jefferys

This elaborate engraving made by the famous royal geographer and cartographer Thomas Jefferys captures the traditional outfit known as the "Ancient Habit of the Married Woman from Friesland". Jefferys was well-known for his expertise in depicting costumes and making maps, thus providing us with this elaborate picture of a Frisian.

The picture features an upper middle class dress with distinct details that define the wearer as belonging to the upper middle class of Friesland. Important features that should be noted include the beautiful oorijzer (ear iron or head-iron), the characteristic metal headgear made out of silver or gold that could be worn with the lace cap. As can be expected from such attire, the woman was a wealthy one and belonged to the upper middle class of society in the second half of the 1700s.