tippet

Meriwether Lewis wearing a tippet presented to him by Sacagawea's brother, Cameahwait.

A tippet is a stole or scarf-like narrow piece of clothing, worn over the shoulders. They evolved in the fourteenth century from long sleeves and typically had one end hanging down to the knees. In later fashion, a tippet is often any scarf-like wrap, usually made of fur, such as the sixteenth century zibellino^[1] or the fur-lined capelets worn in the mid-18th century.

Ecclesiastical use

Anglican priest wearing a black tippet.

The ceremonial scarf worn by Anglican presbyters is called a tippet. The tippet is worn with choir dress and hangs straight down at the front. Ordained clergy wear a black tippet, while licensed readers wear a blue one. In some countries it is normally simply referred to as a preaching scarf, black scarf, or blue scarf. The tippet is different from the stole, which although often worn like a scarf is a Eucharistic vestment, usually made of richer material, and varying according to the liturgical colour of the day. Clergy who are entitled to wear medals, orders or awards may fix them to the upper left side of the tippet on suitable occasions (Remembrance Sunday for example). Sometimes the right end of the tippet is embroidered with the coat of arms of the ecclesiastical institution of which the cleric is a member, but some deplore this usage. Tippets are often worn for the Daily Offices of Morning Prayer and Evensong. (Cf. Canon B8 of the Church of England, nb. the word "Scarf" is referring to the Tippet)^[2] However, Anglican Catholics tend not to wear the tippet, preferring to wear the choir habit of Roman Catholic clergy instead.

The black preaching scarf (rarely blue, grey or green) is also worn by some Scottish Presbyterian ministers and other non-conformist clergy.

Gallery

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  Fourteenth century fur-lined tippet or hanging sleeve

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  Sixteenth century zibellino or fur tippet

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  Eighteenth century fur-lined tippet or capelet

Notes

References

• Arnold, Janet: Queen Elizabeth's Wardrobe Unlock'd, W S Maney and Son Ltd, Leeds 1988. ISBN 0-901286-20-6
• Netherton, Robin, "The Tippet: Accessory after Fact?", in Robin Netherton and Gale R. Owen-Crocker, editors, Medieval Clothing and Textiles, Volume 1, Woodbridge, Suffolk, UK, and Rochester, NY, the Boydell Press, 2005, ISBN 1843831236
• Payne, Blanche: History of Costume from the Ancient Egyptians to the Twentieth Century, Harper & Row, 1965. No ISBN for this edition; ASIN B0006BMNFS