Cap

Art Historical Context

Step into the elegant simplicity of late 18th-century American fashion with this delicate linen cap from the Metropolitan Museum of Art Costume Institute. Crafted an unknown artist around the 1770s or 1780s, this headpiece was generously gifted by Miss Blanche R. Smith 1937, preserving a slice of early American life. In the era of the American Revolution and early republic, caps like this were a staple of women's attire, often worn indoors to cover and protect styled hair or as a modest foundation beneath outdoor bonnets. Linen, prized for its breathability, durability, and ease of laundering...