Shirt of Willem Frederik, anonymous, c. 1650
bobbin lace, l 118cm More details
Many Dutch burghers wore white linen undergarments, often decorated with lace. Because it was expensive to clean, white linen was a status symbol in the 17th century. This shirt with an embroidered red crown probably belonged to Willem Frederik, the son of Ernst Casimir. The rounded scalloping of the lace and the length of the shirt suggest it was made in 1640. Willem Frederik was then 27.
