Sweater

Unknown

late 17th century · silk · Costume Institute

The rare knitted silks of the seventeenth have never been fully explained, but were probably informal wear. Today they could be purposeful as skiwear or underwear, a light sweater, or a chic bodice. Decorated to be seen, these knits are not represented in painting of the period, yet their role was clearly as a comfortable year-round clothing more consequential than any season's novelty.

Artist

Unknown

Date

late 17th century

Medium

silk

Culture

European

Department

Costume Institute

Credit line

Frederick C. Hewitt Fund, 1914