| |
Figure
5: Portrait of a Lady, Ghiraldaio demonstrating horizontal laces,
and a coverciere. Also note that her cap has ties under the chin.
Another interesting detail is that the cord of her necklace is actually
under her laces. |
|
Figure
6: Ginevra de Benci, Leonardo da Vinci, 1474. Note her coverciere
closed with a button or pin and the metal lacing rings sewn to the
outside of the bodice. Also, is that a black poste around her neck? |
|
acing
holes were either oversewn eyelets, lacings rings (Figure 6) or metal
eyelets inserted into the fabric. An interesting point that Birbari
suggests is that the underarm lacings were, in some cases, the only
functional lacings. This allowed the center front closure to remain
permanently fixed, keeping the profile the same each time the dress
was worn. This would also have kept wear and tear on the front lacings
to a minimum. 
