Kraagstukken

Kraagstukken is a Dutch term that refers to collar pieces—decorative or structural elements placed around the neck on clothing or worn as part of a neck ornament. The concept appears in fashion history and in the study of jewelry and metalwork, and the exact meaning can vary with context.

In clothing, kraagstukken denote components that shape, support, or stiffen a collar. They can be detachable and were particularly common from the late medieval period through the 19th century, helping to achieve the desired silhouette when worn with ornate necklines, lace, or embroidery. Materials ranged from stiffened fabrics and buckram to wire supports, depending on the era and garment style.

In jewelry and ceremonial dress, kraagstukken describe neckbands or collar-like ornaments, often made of metal. These pieces could function as status indicators or ceremonial adornments and may resemble torcs or broad bands worn at the base of the neck.

Materials and construction methods for kraagstukken varied over time and across regions, reflecting both aesthetic trends and technical possibilities. From the stiffeners used in historical collars to the metalwork of neckpieces, these elements illuminate how dress communicated social and cultural signals.

The term is mainly used in Dutch-language sources, but the underlying idea—neck-focused decorative or structural pieces—appears in related forms across European fashion and jewelry vocabulary, under terms such as collar, ruff, or torc in other languages.