Cap
Unknown Artist
19th century
Medium
cotton
Classification
Cap
Culture
European
Department
Costume Institute
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Purchase by subscription, 1909
Accession Number
09.68.631
Art Historical Context
Step into the world of 19th-century fashion with this delicate cotton cap from the Metropolitan of Art's Costume Institute. Crafted by an unknown artist, this everyday headpiece exemplifies the practical elegance of Victorian-era attire, likely worn by women or children for indoor use, protection, or as a charming accessory. Its simple cotton construction reflects the era's growing accessibility to affordable textiles, thanks to the Industrial Revolution's advancements in weaving and dyeing. Cotton, as the medium here, was revolutionary in the 1800s—a lightweight, breathable fabric that democ...