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Object Timeline
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Man's Cap (England)
This is a Man's cap. It is dated late 16th century and we acquired it in 1962. Its medium is silk and metallic embroidery on linen foundation, metal spangles and its technique is embroidered in split, back and couching stitches on plain weave foundation; applique. It is a part of the Textiles department.
A Little Nightcap
This embroidered nightcap represents a type of hat worn by English men beginning around 1550. It was appropriate for any time of day despite its name, and men wore it informally at home but not while sleeping. A man would have rarely worn an embroidered nightcap in public, yet some appeared in elite portraiture. Headwear was important because keeping the head covered and warm was thought to be part of a healthy lifestyle, even though most men wore their natural hair at the time. This hat’s lavish decoration also indicated the wealth and social status of its wearer. It may have been embroidered by a woman in her home using designs from pattern books or a draftsman, since embroidery was an important skill for women of any status. It could have even been produced by the flourishing professional embroidery trade. Most embroidered hats at this time feature floral designs with insects or birds, so the pattern of rainbows and rainstorms above snails and caterpillars is distinctive. The rainbows may symbolize the peace brought by Queen Elizabeth I after a time of political storms, and the caterpillars signify this transformation.
This object was featured in our Object of the Week series in a post titled A Little Nightcap.
This object was
bequest of
Richard Cranch Greenleaf (American, 1887–1961).
It is credited Bequest of Richard Cranch Greenleaf in memory of his mother, Adeline Emma Greenleaf.
- Cap (Spain)
- silk.
- Gift of Richard C. Greenleaf.
- 1951-105-35
- Man's Cap (laket) (Democratic Republic of the Congo)
- raffia, wool.
- Museum purchase from Au Panier Fleuri Fund.
- 1957-110-13
Its dimensions are
H x diam: 20 x 19 cm (7 7/8 x 7 1/2 in.)
Cite this object as
Man's Cap (England); silk and metallic embroidery on linen foundation, metal spangles; H x diam: 20 x 19 cm (7 7/8 x 7 1/2 in.); Bequest of Richard Cranch Greenleaf in memory of his mother, Adeline Emma Greenleaf; 1962-53-11
