When reenacting 15th century you tend to just make knee-high hose if you are a lady and long for something less warm during those hot summer events. And then came the short sock in linen, usually referred to as the Tross-frau sock. Whilja has the most thourough description of it here:
Well I could not possibly use that now, it seems to be later period? Imagine my happiness when I stumbled over these ladies feet. Look closely and you'll see that they are wearing what definetly looks like short white socks. Possibly with a black edge and a slit in the side.
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| Konzil von Konstanz Prozession, Wien Austria Nationalbibliothek Cod 3044, fol 44r |
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| Konzil von Konstanz Procession, Wien Austria Nationalbibliothek, cod 3044, fol 45r |
I have looked at the different interpretations of the so-called Trossfrau sock, many based on the german extant one in linen exhibited in the Altes Rathaus in Regensburg and found that most see it as a 16th Century phenomenon. My first thought was that this must be what these ladies are wearing. But the cut does not look the same at all.
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Linen sock in Regensburg, photo by Elsa Hahma
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And then I remembered the naalbound sock from Uppsala, with a slit and a black edge. Doesn't this look exactly like what these ladies are wearing? And it is shaped to follow the shape of the common sidelaced 15th Century shoes. So I guess I will have to order some new footwear for the summer. Even though it's not a linen sock a short sock is still by far less warm to wear during hot summer days than kneehigh hose.
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| Naalbound sock from Uppsala, possibly late 15th Century |
Cool! Literally ;)
SvaraRaderaHi, the shoes on paintings in cod 3044 are shoes, black and white shoes and no socks.
SvaraRadera