Figure 1.--This red scull cap was worn with the altarboy vestments. The red scullcap suggests that this was from the early 20th century. A French reader who was an altar boy in the 1950s reports that he never remembers seeing altar boys wearing the scull caps. |
We have images of a charming traditional three-piece alatarboy costume, showing the various garments in considerable detail. This is the advantage of these vintage pages, they show the color and the construction of the garments in cosiderable detail.
This is a traditional, probably early 20th century, altar boy ensemble. The vestments now worn by altar boys are somewhat different. The red scullcap suggests that this was from the early 20th century. A French reader who was an altar boy in the 1950s reports that he never remembers seeing altar boys wearing the scull caps.
This garment appears to come from southern France. at least that is where the auction was held. I do not know if altar boy vestments varied regionally in France. A French reader tells us that there were no regional variations in altar boy costumes. Boys all over France wor the same costumes.
Figure 2.--This upper view shows the red wook cossocks and the short lace-trimmed cotta or surplice worn over it. Note the fabric covered red button and the filagree work ("croquets") around the neck of the surplice ("cotta"). This was very common in France. around the neck of the surplice. Click on the image to see the lace work on the bottom hem of the sufplice. |
The ensemable consists of a short lace-trimmed cotta, a red boy's wool cassock with 10 red fabric buttons along the front, and a matching red skullcap. The surplice had filagree work around the head opening and detailed lace work around the bottom hem. A different design of lace work is employed to the short sleeves of the surplice. The basic style was set by the Vatican. As a result boys all over France as well as other countries wore the same costume to serve as altar boys. The costume was determined by the Vatican. There could be some variations in detailing such as the filagree work ( croquets ) and the lace trim on the surplice ( cotta ).
Ensemble's like this were traditionally worn by altar boy in France during mass and and during processions.
The red garment measures about 35 inches long. The cotta measures about 28 inches from the shoulder to the hem. We estimate that this set would fit a child 7-10 years old, but as any parent knows it all depends.
All the French altar boy images we have noted show the boys wearing red cassocks. I'm not sure why red was worn or what it signifies. A French reader tells us, "The red color was the color of the blood and the fire. It ws worn for the Pantecost, Palm Sunnday, and the Martyrs."
Figure 3.-- A different design of lace work is employed to the short sleeves of the surplice than the bottom hem. |
Many of these altar boy costumes were sewn by hand, often by faitful women of the church. Very commonly in France the serplices had "croquet" filagree trim like this one. Always there was lace trimmed on the cotta.
A French reader tells us, "This vestment is very familair to me; and I know well the rules. In France I had rather worn the white alb than the soutane et surplis. (Cotta = Surplis in French ). This cotta is averywhere the same, with few variations. Sometimes instead of the buttons, a little cord is worn. Always the surplice was lace trimmend at the sleeves and the hem.
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