Muff - Mafu (English spelling) muff

A tubular object used mainly by women to keep their hands warm by inserting their hands into both ends. Made of fur, wool, feathers, velvet, or silk, it is decorated with embroidery, beads, lace, ribbons, etc. It first appeared in Italy in the 15th century and was initially used by the upper classes, but began to spread to the general public in France in the mid-16th century, and reached its peak in the 17th and 18th centuries, and was also used by men until the 1790s. It was used more to add dignity than to keep warm. In the early 17th century, small muffs were held in one hand for a stylish look, but in the later 17th century, they became larger and were hung from a belt around the waist. Women also wore muffs as accessories, regardless of age, class, or season. The nobility's muffs were made of fur or silk, but the common people's were crude. In the 18th century, it became fashionable to match them with small shoulder capes. They came in a variety of sizes, from those barely large enough to fit both hands to those that covered the elbows, and were cylindrical, oval, barrel-shaped, etc., but in the 19th century they generally became smaller, and by the 1880s they had become elegant. Nowadays, fur, velvet, and silk ones are worn as accessories at parties, and in extremely cold regions, fur and woolen ones are worn to keep warm.

[Yoshiko Tamura]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

主として婦人が手を暖めるために、その両端より手を差し込んで用いる筒状のもの。毛皮、毛織物、羽毛、ビロード、絹製のものに、刺しゅうやビーズ、レース、リボンなどを飾ったもの。15世紀のイタリアに出現し、当初は上流階級の人々の間で用いられたが、16世紀中期のフランスで一般に普及し始め、17、8世紀には全盛をみ、1790年代までは男性にも用いられた。これは保温のためよりも威厳を添えるためのものだった。17世紀初期には小形のものを片手で粋(いき)に持っていたのが、後半になると大形化し、胴のベルトからつるすようになった。女子も、アクセサリーとして年齢、階級、季節を問わずに用いていた。貴族のマフは毛皮や絹製だったが、庶民のものは粗末だった。18世紀には、小さなショルダー・ケープとそろいにすることが流行した。大きさは、両手がやっと入るものから、肘(ひじ)まですっぽり入るものまであり、形も円筒形、楕円(だえん)筒形、樽(たる)形などがあったが、19世紀には概して小形化し、1880年代までにはエレガントなものになった。現在ではパーティーなどで毛皮、ビロード、絹製のものなどがアクセサリーとして、また、厳寒地では毛皮や毛織地のものが防寒用として用いられている。

［田村芳子］

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