Cock Piece

Cock Piece
References:

Brown, Susan, ed. Fashion: The Definitive History of Costume and Style . New York: DK Publishing, 2012. http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/840417029 .
Evenson, Sandra Lee. Encyclopedia of Clothing and Fashion . Detroit: Charles Scribner’s Sons, 2005. Gale Virtual Reference Library . http://libproxy.fitsuny.edu:2200/ps/i.do?id=GALE%7CCX3427500132&v=2.1&u=fitsuny&it=r&p=GVRL&sw=w&asid=90b0c9d2e306f42a3591c8aa24f25ecf . (accessed Feb. 13, 2016).
“Codpiece.” The Berg Fashion Library . (n.d.). http://libproxy.fitsuny.edu:2105/view/bdfh/bdfh-div11022.xml (accessed 12 Feb. 2016).
Evenson, Sandra. “Codpiece.” The Berg Fashion Library . 2005. http://libproxy.fitsuny.edu:2105/view/bazf/bazf00132.xml (accessed 12 Feb. 2016).
“Codpiece.” Wikipedia , October 8, 2017. https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Codpiece&oldid=804403647 .
“Codpieces: Style on the Rise on Sotheby’s Blog.” Accessed October 14, 2017. /en/news-video/blogs/all-blogs/sotheby-s-magazine–december-2016/2016/11/codpieces-in-art-old-master-paintings.html .
“Comments on the Codpiece.” The First Book of Fashion. Accessed October 14, 2017. http://thefirstbookoffashion.tumblr.com/post/67079750375/comments-on-the-codpiece .
Mirabella, M. Bella, ed. Ornamentalism: The Art of Renaissance Accessories . Ann Arbor: University of Michigan Press, 2011. http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/949986702 .
Stall-Meadows, Celia, and Leslie Stall Widener. Why Would Anyone Wear That? Fascinating Fashion Facts . Chicago: The University Of Chicago Press, 2013. http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/900354080 .
Steele, Valerie, ed. Dictionary of Fashion History . Oxford: Berg, 2010. http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/609540987 .

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Posted by FIT Student | Last updated Aug 14, 2018 | Published on Aug 16, 2018 | 15th century , 16th century , C , term definition
Originally created as the join between the two hoses at the groin, the codpiece eventually became an ornate piece of male dress in the 16th century.
he codpiece as a feature of male dress dates to the 15th and 16th centuries during the Renaissance. In reference to the codpiece, Susan Brown, editor of Fashion: The Definitive History of Costume and Style writes that in 1540:
“The codpiece reaches its peak in terms of size and decoration. Designed to cover the gap between the two legs of men’s hose, it is packed and shaped to emphasize rather than disguise the genital area.” (79)
“The origins of the codpiece lie in the triangle of fabric used to join the two separate hose legs in the late 15th century when doublets shortened. Soon padding was added and ended up as the codpiece–a prominent, suggestive shape filling the gap between the legs of the breeches. It soon became a normal part of male clothing, in style across many countless and social levels until the end of the 1500s. Tailors became as creative with codpiece shapes as with other clothing details. The codpiece could hide a pocket or even be used as a pincushion.” (89)
Fig. 1 - Hans Holbein the Younger (German, 1497-1543). Portrait of Henry VIII , 1537-1547. Oil on canvas; 239 x 134.5 cm (94.09 x 52.95 in). Liverpool: Walker Art Gallery, WAG 1350. Source: Wikimedia
Fig. 2 - Agnolo Bronzino (Italian, 1503–1572). Portrait of Guidubaldo della Rovere , 1532. Oil on canvas; 114 x 86 cm (44.8 x 33.8 in). Florence: Palazzo Pitti. Source: Pinterest
Fig. 3 - Giovanni Battista Moroni (Italian, 1520-1578). Portait of Antonio Navagero , 1565. Oil on canvas; 115 x 90 cm (45.3 x 35.4 in). Milan: Pinoteca Di Brera, 334, Room 14. Source: Brera Pinacoteca
Fig. 4 - Paolo Veronese (Italian, 1528–1588). Boy With a Greyhound , ca. 1570s. Oil on canvas; 173.7 x 101.9 cm (68 3/8 x 40 1/8 in). New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 29.100.105. Bequest of Mrs. H. O. Havemeyer, 1929. Source: The Met
The Berg Dictionary of Fashion History catalogs the evolution of the codpiece, writing:
The front flap forming a pouch at the fork of the long hose. ‘A kodpese like a pokett’ (ca. 1460, Townley Mysteries).
When worn with trunk-hose, the codpiece was padded and very prominent and tied to the hose with points.
When the projecting pouch was discarded the term was often applied to the front fastening of the breeches, and, in the 18th century, occasionally to the front fall of the breeches.”
In reference to the beginnings of the codpiece and its symbolic power, Sandra Evenson in the Encyclopedia of Clothing and Fashion writes:
“Originally a triangle of cloth used to join the individual legs of men’s hose, the codpiece emerged as a nonverbal statement of political and economic power.” (276)
While generally worn as part of everyday dress (Figs. 1, 3, 4) the codpiece was also worn as a part of an aristocratic battle dress (Fig. 2) and even incorporated into full metal suits of armor (Fig. 5).
Fig. 5 - Kunz Lochner (German, 1510–1567). Armor of Emperor Ferdinand I (1503–1564) , 1549. Steel, brass, leather; h. 170.2 cm (67 in; wt. 24kg (52 lb. 14 oz.)). New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1933. 33.164a–x. Rogers Fund and George D. Pratt Gift. Source: The Met
T he codpiece has been occasionally revived in modern fashion (Fig. 6), as in Thom Browne’s Spring 2008 menswear collection or Moncler Gamme Bleu’s Spring/Summer 2012 collection (Fig. 7).
Fig. 6 - Thom Browne (American, 1965-). Menswear , Spring 2008. Source: Vogue
Fig. 7 - Moncler Gamme Bleu. Menswear , Spring/Summer 2012. Source: Sotheby's
Represents the anonymous and/or collaborative work of FIT students enrolled in History of Art courses.
Last updated Oct 10, 2019 | Published on Mar 24, 2017
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Last updated Aug 13, 2018 | Published on Feb 24, 2017
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Guest Contributor • April 1, 2011 • Last updated: June 10, 2021
Editor’s note: This is a guest post from Ty Karnitz.
Men today have been bringing back many classic things from the past: the hat, old cocktails, shaving with a safety razor…and now it’s time to revive another quintessential piece of manliness: the codpiece.
In the 1500s, men wore hose to cover their legs. Now the hose they wore were nothing like the hose women wear today. The hose covered the legs but did not cover the genitals. As the jackets and doublets got shorter with fashion, men began to accidentally expose themselves when they sat down or mounted a horse. So, to cover their manhood, men began to wear a codpiece (from the Middle English “cod,” meaning “scrotum”).
The codpiece began as a simple piece of fabric that would be tied down, really just an extra piece of linen. However, as time wore on the codpiece became more elaborate and decorative, longer and padded. So instead of helping to conceal the genitals, the codpiece emphasized them.
However, there are alternative theories as to why the codpiece was developed. Author Marion Sichel, in the book History of Men’s Costume , suggests the codpiece developed because men’s hose became so tight they restricted movement, and the codpiece gave men more freedom of movement.
While the most readily accepted idea is that the codpiece was used to emphasize a man’s sexual prowess, there is another idea about what a codpiece was used for. Anthropologist Grace W. Vicary believes that the elongated codpieces might have contained medication to relieve symptoms of venereal diseases; this way the medication would not ruin the outer clothing.
Whatever the reasons for the codpiece’s evolution, it is without a doubt one of the most unique and distinctly manly articles of clothing ever seen. And though its height of popularity might have been in the 1500s, there is evidence that early precursors to the codpiece were around even in Ancient Greece. Some figurines recovered in archeological digs on Crete depict codpieces.
Some very manly men in the past have worn codpieces. Henry VIII is a prime example. His armor on display in the Tower of London shows that he wore a very large codpiece.
Now, the codpiece has fallen out of fashion in the last five hundred years or so, but that doesn’t mean it has vanished entirely. The Star Wars movies show great examples of codpieces on the armor of Darth Vadar and the Storm Troopers. David Bowie wore a codpiece in The Labyrinth , and Malcolm McDowell sports one in the Kubrick film A Clockwork Orange . You also see them in a lot of heavy metal bands today and in the leather subculture. Also across the world, at Renaissance fairs, men wear them still to this day.
Codpieces are handsome AND functional. Seen here: an incredibly stylish bulletproof codpiece.
The codpiece should be brought back because it can help men today Command a Room like a Man . Any man boldly sporting a codpiece as he walks into a room will instantly gain everyone’s full attention. But remember, the codpiece is supposed to accentuate and not dominate, so even though everyone is likely to be staring at you, keep the focus on them. Maintain eye contact and talk about others. Following those simple rules will also help draw a lady’s attention.
Luckily enough, the codpiece is not extinct. They are still readily accessible on some very popular websites, including Amazon, and most of them will only cost you a little over 100 dollars apiece.
But perhaps that is too expensive. Perhaps, as a cautious man you want to make sure that you’re not spending money on something you won’t want in a few years. That’s okay, too, because there are cheaper alternatives.
Sports Authority, and other sport stores, offer a wide variety of jockstraps and cups that with a little effort could be turned into beautiful codpieces. Some of the newer cups look like shorts and could be worn by themselves. Some of the older styles might need a little paint, so they don’t look so white and out of place over your jeans.
Just remember to be creative about it. To make the cup look more sophisticated, try painting a design on the outside of it, like flames or dragons or an axe or maybe just a smiley face. There’s really no wrong way to bring back the codpiece–just get to it!
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History of Britain from Roman times to Restoration era
In Middle English the word ‘cod’ means scrotum, therefore the codpiece was a piece of material used to cover this part of the body. It is basically a flapping cover or any pouch kind of structure that is attached to the front part of the men’s trouser and hence covering the male genitalia. It is attached with the help of string ties, folds or buttons.
During the 15th century, men wore hose to cover their legs. This hoses however covered the legs of the men but not their genitals. Hence codpiece was an important if not essential part of a man’s clothing. As without it, due to his short doublet and hose which may have closed at the back, but not at the front would have left him greatly exposed.
Alternative theories also suggested that as the hoses that men wore was so tight that the movement was not possible and hence they choose the codpiece which allowed them more movement of freedom.
Hence to cover their manhood, men started to wear a codpiece. Although it emerged as a simple piece of clothing of linen as time emerged they became more decorative and elaborated with padding and bit longer. With this advancement instead of concealing the genitals, the codpiece started to emphasize them.
The codpiece is thought that the item became larger in size due to the spread of syphilis, which meant that a man with the disease would need extra room in his codpiece for his bandages.
Codpiece was a functional part of a man’s clothing. It sprung into existence during medieval times and consisted of a triangular piece of cloth which was sewn into a gentleman’s hose to fit around his groin. The cloth would be held in place with simple string ties or buttons. This was the medieval codpiece in its most simple form.
By the time the Tudors and their flair for all things lavish and ostentatious got hold of it, the codpiece had become something else altogether.
Although codpiece meaning is very clear now, we look forward to some of the examples of the codpiece. Here are represented few examples of Elizabethan codpiece.
Rather than a simple piece of cloth, the Tudors turned their codpieces into fashion statements. They became larger in size, were boned and padded. They grew to such a size that they were able to be used for carrying things inside such as a small weapon, money or even jewels. Which is why today a gentleman’s groin is still called ‘the family jewels’.
Despite the codpiece having been around since the Middle Ages, it was during the reign of the last Tudor monarch, Elizabeth I that the codpiece fell out of fashion.
The codpiece was designed to protect a gentleman’s modesty, as the fashion at the time was for men to wear short doublets and tight hose rather than trousers. These hose while fitting tightly to the legs were totally open at the crotch which meant that without the use of a codpiece a gentleman would be exposing himself wherever he went.
Some of the man who was very strong and manly wore these codpieces as the representation of their status. Some of the examples of the man who wore codpieces that were large or lavish are portrayed by some famous painters. Few of them are
In many of the portraits that we see of Henry VIII , the codpiece is extremely noticeable, if not prominent. This is for a number of reasons. The larger and more ostentatious the codpiece, which not really a representation of how well the man had been endowed but more a representation of his status.
As a king, of course, Henry’s would have to be bigger and better than that of anyone else to represent his position as monarch. Not only was the size exaggerated they were often studded with jeweled pins. It was during the reign of Henry VIII that the codpiece reached its peak of popularity.
Today none of the fabric of Henry’s codpiece exists, but his 1540 codpiece armor suit that is still displayed at the Tower of London depicts a huge codpiece in heavy metal. Its size suggests that Holbein was not at all exaggerating about the codpiece.
This is a Victorian portrait of the man of affairs. Here Navagero is standing in the pose like he is busy in his business holding letter in his hands while leaning on his desk. His clothing has fur lining that represents him of being wealthy. His portrait has a flaunting codpiece that is realistic red colored which highlights his manhood
Holbien portrayed the monster man Henry VIII in its life-size design of the Tudor dynasty. Here he has shown his head of tree stump and broad chest but the main attraction of this image being the marvelous codpiece that depicts the sexual and power process.
A lot many codpieces are see
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