South Beveland Women and Girl in Lace Caps and Black Skirts with Golden Pins, 1932, Paper

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South Beveland Women & Girl in Lace Caps and Black Skirts with Golden Pins Original 1932 chromolithograph from The National … Read more South Beveland Women & Girl in Lace Caps and Black Skirts with Golden Pins Original 1932 chromolithograph from The National Costumes of Holland This richly detailed print depicts two women from South Beveland and a small girl from nearby Walcheren, all dressed in the full ceremonial costume that typifies this prosperous agricultural region in the province of Zeeland. The attire shown is still worn on market days and Sundays by Protestant women in this area and is considered one of the most elaborate traditional costumes in the Netherlands. The women wear the hallmark South Beveland headdress: a stiffly starched lace cap, delicately pinned onto a narrow silver headband known locally as a *beugel*. At either end of the beugel, two ornate repoussé gold ornaments called *krullen* extend in curling scrolls at the temples. These golden pieces are joined by *strikken*, decorative repoussé ornaments shaped like trefoils, adding to the baroque elegance of the ensemble. The cap itself is heavily embroidered and kept tightly in place with gold-headed pins—an arrangement that requires precision and regular resetting. The bodices, or *bemdrok*, are made of fine black cashmere with tight, short sleeves bordered in black velvet. These sleeves are so tightly tailored that they force the arms to appear swelled—an aesthetic traditionally associated with feminine beauty and modesty. Over the bodices, the women wear shawls called *fichus*, made of heavy Austrian silk in shades of purple and green, their ends intricately folded and pinned in the back. Each woman wears a long, full black damask skirt with fine pleating at the side and back, and an apron of black cashmere with its band expertly secured with up to ten small pins. The coral bead necklaces—often up to five strands—are fastened with ornate gold clasps, further symbolizing the wearer’s wealth and social standing. The little girl’s costume mirrors the adult style, though simplified. Her cap is stiffly embroidered, and beneath it sits a silver *beugel* terminating in golden curls. Her bodice and skirt are in black wool and damask, over which she wears a charming blue-and-white checked apron with broad shoulder straps. Her delicate lace-trimmed cap and tightly pinned coiffure mark her as a young girl from a respectable Zeeland family. Condition: This original chromolithograph is in excellent condition with vivid, unfaded color and strong impressions. The image area is clean, with no foxing or tears. Minor toning may appear at the edges of the sheet, typical of vintage paper from the 1930s, but it does not affect the illustration. Framing Suggestion: We recommend framing this plate with a deep, museum-style mount and a dark wooden or black lacquered frame to complement the dramatic black garments depicted. A UV-protective glass is advised to preserve the brilliance of the inks. Including a small brass plaque with the plate title—“Plate XL – South Beveland”—would give an elegant finishing touch. See less