Cap
1600-1625 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This nightcap is a typical example of informal headwear for a wealthy man. Although only worn in the privacy of home, it is a luxurious garment.
Covering the head for both men and women was an important sartorial custom in Western Europe up until 1960s. From a health perspective, head coverings were considered necessary to protect against chills and disease. In literature and paintings, to be bareheaded often signified emotional distress or even insanity.
The use of the adjective 'night' in describing various types of informal garments, as in nightcap or nightgown, is sometimes confusing. It refers to 'night clothes', that is, informal clothing worn in the evening, after the formal public attire of the day, rather than to garments that were actually worn in bed.
Covering the head for both men and women was an important sartorial custom in Western Europe up until 1960s. From a health perspective, head coverings were considered necessary to protect against chills and disease. In literature and paintings, to be bareheaded often signified emotional distress or even insanity.
The use of the adjective 'night' in describing various types of informal garments, as in nightcap or nightgown, is sometimes confusing. It refers to 'night clothes', that is, informal clothing worn in the evening, after the formal public attire of the day, rather than to garments that were actually worn in bed.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Embroidered linen with silver and silver-gilt threads, edged with silver and silver-gilt bobbin lace, spangles |
| Brief description | Man's cap of embroidered linen with silver and silver-gilt thread and lace, England, 1600-1625 |
| Physical description | Cap of embroidered linen with silver and silver-gilt thread in double ladder, interlaced, detached buttonhole and plaited braid stitches. Design of coiling gold stems with flowers and insects in gold and silver. Turned-up brim edged with silver and silver-gilt bobbin lace, and with spangles attached. |
| Dimensions |
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| Gallery label |
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| Object history | The RF number is 1954/1919. The cap was displayed in 'Treasures of the Royal Courts: Tudors, Stuarts and the Russian Tsars' from 9 March – 14 July 2013. |
| Summary | This nightcap is a typical example of informal headwear for a wealthy man. Although only worn in the privacy of home, it is a luxurious garment. Covering the head for both men and women was an important sartorial custom in Western Europe up until 1960s. From a health perspective, head coverings were considered necessary to protect against chills and disease. In literature and paintings, to be bareheaded often signified emotional distress or even insanity. The use of the adjective 'night' in describing various types of informal garments, as in nightcap or nightgown, is sometimes confusing. It refers to 'night clothes', that is, informal clothing worn in the evening, after the formal public attire of the day, rather than to garments that were actually worn in bed. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | T.75-1954 |
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| Record created | June 24, 2009 |
| Record URL |
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