Besides the general fashions, we meet at all times with female head coverings peculiar to certain districts. Thus the married women of Nuremberg wore about the year 150o a stiff linen cap over a wire frame (fl. 38, fig. 3), which seems to have been the last remains of the medimval veil. In the seventeenth century we find in the cities of South Germany a fur cap (fig. 14), which has been preserved to this day in some districts of Lower Bavaria. Among other head-dresses the matrons of wore a peculiar cap (fig. 15) which was entirely hung with gold-plated pieces of metal.
Ornaments.—Of jewelry proper we shall say but little, as such articles were too numerous and too multiform to allow a full description. In general it was as much prized by both sexes during the Middle Ages as at any subsequent time. During the period when as yet there was no real head-covering young men and maidens were accustomed to wear decorated hoops and bands in their hair (II. 35,fig. 12). The clasps of the cloaks worn by the men especially gave opportunity for ornamenta tion. The same was true of the broad belts in fashion during the four teenth century. Finger-rings were so high in favor with both men and
women that they were even worn on the thumb. Amulets were fastened to the necklaces, and, being set in gold and silver, they soon became ornamental objects. The sixteenth century was the most extravagant in regard to jewelry. Heavy chains were worn about the neck and shoulder by rich persons of both sexes. Princes showed their favor by the pres entation of "chains of grace" with medallions attached. The men decorated above all the hangings and handles of their weapons, and the women bestowed equal care upon the ornamented belt-hooks on which they carried bags, keys, etc., which often hung down on the dress.
In the more sober seventeenth century the use of jewelry was some what diminished, but greater luxury than ever prevailed in the use of fine laces. The eighteenth century again adopted jewelry, but, as it was worn principally in the evening and on festive occasions, when it could not be critically examined, more attention was bestowed upon mere glit ter than upon real worth, while in the sixteenth century the latter had been the chief consideration.