Trossfrau/Kampfrau/Swiss Style Dress

This style is seen around 1530 in the wood cuts “The German single-leaf woodcut, 1500-1550″ by Max Geisberg and in the Triumph of Maximillian.

Identifying details:
– Closed front opening possibly laced or hook/eye.
– Predminantly square neckline both front and back (though there are examples of round front/back necks)
– Guarding follows the neckline and along the edge of the opening down to the waist. The skirt may also have one or more guards on it.
– Guarding can be slashed or patterned.
– Skirt pleated into the bodice.
– Most sleeves are fairly simple but there may be some slashing at joints(elbow/shoulder).
– They could also have wide cuffed ‘funnel’ sleeves.
– Headgear is usually a wulsthaube and/or a barret (with and without feathers) of some kind.
– Occasionally these are shown with a doublet style bodice
– This is the most commonly seen garment on city women of *all* classes.

Inspirational Pictures

G.1214 Musketeer and Wife c.1535 The German single-leaf woodcut, 1500-1550, Max Geisberg ; rev. and edited by Walter L. Strauss, New York : Hacker Art Books, 1974.
Edhard Schoen G.1235-1238. Detail – Army Train 1532 The German single-leaf woodcut, 1500-1550, Max Geisberg ; rev. and edited by Walter L. Strauss, New York : Hacker Art Books, 1974.
G.1264 Encampment The German single-leaf woodcut, 1500-1550, Max Geisberg ; rev. and edited by Walter L. Strauss, New York : Hacker Art Books, 1974.


1520 Hans Holbein, Swiss gown
1562 Allaert Claesz, death dressed as a fool pursuing a couple; Death holding up an hourglass; the man at centre pushing him away from the fleeing woman, whose hand Death has grasped; from a series of seven engravings.
1546 Camp scene of Charles V: Zeltlager Kaiser Karls V. vor Lauingen im Jahre 1546;Stadtansicht von Lauingen Dieses Bild: 015457 Kunstwerk: Malerei-Holz ; Tafelbild ; Gerung Matthias Dokumentation: 1551 ; 1551 ; Lauingen ; Deutschland ; Schwaben ; Heimathaus Anmerkungen: 100×200 ; . . . wider Laster und Sünde (Ausst.Kat.), Augsburg 1997, Nr. 97.



1528, Beham, Barthel Portrait of Anna Scheit, nee Mem(m)inger, oil on panel



Holbein

Holbein

Holbein

Dürer, Albrecht
Seated Woman
1514


Resources

Curious Frau
A Beginners Guide to 16 Century German Womens Dress – How to
Landsknecht.org: The International Landsknecht community and once again home of Stockholmsfänikan
SCA German Renaissance Research

Dress Diaries

Red&Black Swiss gown
Green&Gold Swiss gown
Blue&Black Swiss gown

Sylvie: