Kokoshnik (Russian Women's Headdress)
Crest-shaped ceremonial headdress of Russian women, a stiff crown of brocade, velvet or silk embroidered with pearls, gold thread and beads. Worn over the braids from the 17th century, the kokoshnik varied by region, from horned and high-crested to flat-topped forms, and marked the married woman; after Peter the Great's court reforms it survived as festive wear in the provinces. The word derives from 'kokosh', the old Russian name for a hen or cockerel, from the crest-like shape, and the headdress was worn at weddings and church festivals together with the best dress. Regional types carry dist