(ENTERTAINMENT) In the 16th century, Jesters were a very popular form of entertainment, particularly in the Royal Courts. Above is a picture of what a jester might have looked like back then. King James I of England employed a jester named Archibald Armstrong. Jesters would sing, tell jokes and riddles, juggle, perform magic tricks, and tell stories to entertain the court. Jesters in the 16th century are inexorably tied to William Shakespeare as he used jesters and fools in many of his…

This post is part of our “Hat History” series. In this series, we’re sewing together a bit of headgear history and revealing the meaning behind our favorite period, classic and modern hats! Did you know… Medieval court jesters were more than just fools in funny clothes with silly hats. Most court jesters were actually quite smart and played an important role in the courts of medieval monarchs. They were known to add levity to medieval life’s heavy situations and defuse heated conversations…

Costume design for a Girl Jester by Wilhelm (William John Charles Pitcher), unidentified production, 1883

Collage depicting inspiration for a court jester costume inspired by 16th Century German Landsknecht fashion.

Costume design by Wilhelm (Charles William Pitcher, 1858-1925) for the 2 Dancers with Yule Log in the pantomime Dick Whittington as performed at the Adelphi Theatre on 26th December 1898, Wilhelm Pantomime Designs.

"The Jester" Another character for the project "Le Roi de Fer" by Louis Accard