One of the relics associated with St. Bridget of Sweden, aka Birgitta of Vadstena (1303-1373), is a simple linen cap.

An article on St. Birgitta’s cap in Medieval Clothing and Textiles 4 has inspired re-creations have been produced by re-enactors all over the world, including Sarah A., Laurel Black, Ragnhild Dalheim, Viktoria Holmqvist, Joanna L., Elina, Ilish, Amanda Marksdottir, Åsa Martinsson, Edyth Miller, Vanessa Nessayem, Catharina Oksen, Isis Sturtewagen, and Tina Swindells.

Additional line drawings relating to the original medieval coif can be found at the websites of the Middelaldercentret or at Some Clothing of the Middle Ages.

Following are additional medieval illustrations showing women wearing this sort of cap.

• The Maciejowski Bible (PML M.638), c. 1250, fols. 4v, 7v, 8v, 9r, 10v, 15v, 16r, 17v, 18r, 19v, 33v, 38r, 41v, 42v
• August (Virgo), a book of hours (ÖNB 1898, fol. 8r), c. 1265-1275
• Psalter of St. Louis (BNF Latin 10525), c. 1270, fols. 29v, 63v, 67v
• Margin illustration, a psalter (PML M.98, fol. 16r), c. 1275-1299
• Breviary (KB 76 J 18), c. 1275-1300, fols. 210v, 211r, 211v
• The Murthly Hours (NLS 21000), 1280s, fols. 4r, 35v, 44r, 61r, 84r, 162r, 172r, 185v, 199r
• Margin illustration, Psalter-Hours of Yolande de Soissons (PML M.729, fol. 71r), c. 1280-1299
• Massacre of the Innocents, Dädesjö Church, Småland, late 13th century
• Somme le Roi (Bibl. Mazarine 870) (fol. 147), 1295, fols. 64v, 147, 179,
• Pharaoh’s daughter finds Moses, the Chertsey Abbey Breviary (Bodl. Lat. liturg. d. 42, fol. 6r), c. 1307-1325
• Kalila va Dimna (BNF Latin 8504), 1313, fols. 23, 31v, 32, 45v, 50v, 56v, 56v, 63v, 110, 151v, 163, 166, 167v
• Abishag at the bed of old David, Bible Historiale (The Hague, KB, 71 A 23, fol. 164r), c. 1320-40
• The family of Noah, wall-painting at Kirkerup, c. 1325
• Linen clothing and hyssop (fol. 33r), Tacuinum Sanitatis (ÖNB Codex Codex Vindobonensis, series nova 2644), c. 1370-1400
• Chestnuts (fol. 11), fresh cheese (fol. 58v), bathing (fol. 97), Tacuinum Sanitatis (BNF NAL 1673), c. 1390-1400
• King Rex’s prisoners, Les Cent Nouvelles Nouvelles (Glasgow Univ. Hunter 252, fol. 186r), c. 1475-1500

Thanks to Camilla Luise Dahl for her assistance with this linkspage!