Eyelet Bars with Scallop Shells

Eyelet bars enjoyed a relatively short period of intense popularity in Germany in the last quarter of the fifteenth century. They show up on both women’s and men’s clothing in portraits and prints, notably in the Wolfegg Hausbuch and contemporary works. They support a close, slack zigzag of lacing between the front  edges of a short collar which extends the wide neckline. We have a growing (although not yet carefully curated or identified) Pinterest page at https://www.pinterest.com/macs_shop/eyelet-bars/.

These objects are mysterious. Although they are common in these late 15th century prints, we have not yet found any evidence of extant examples. We would love to hear from you if you know of one. There does not seem to be an English term for them, which does not help with the search. We are calling them “eyelet bars” or “lacing eyelet bars.” (European re-enactors use the German word Öseleisten – which means eyelet bar/strip.)

Since we have yet to see a real one, we have adapted a contemporary bronze cloak hook – a row of five circles from which protrude five hooks, adorned with a row of scallop shells. Presumably the other side had only loops and no hooks. The original was found in Nieuwlande.

We are also offering a matching set of scallop shell lacing eyelets. These can be used with the eyelet bars if your garment also has laces lower down, or on any laced garment where you might use our other lacing eyelets.