Man's Cap
1575/1600
Medium
Linen, plain weave; embroidered with silk, gilt-strip-wrapped silk, and metal paillettes in ladder and stem stitches; couching and buttonholed couching; edged with bobbin lace
Dimensions
18 × 19 cm (7 × 7 1/2 in.)
Classification
textile
Department
Textiles
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
20296
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
Nightcaps for men and their counterparts, coifs for women, were long-lived fashion, from about 1580 until 1650. With their heavy encrustations of decoration they were obviously not intended to be worn while sleeping. For the night wear a plain, warm, knitted woolen "biggin" was used. Like the woman's cap, the man's nightcap was meant for indoor wear during social hours at home. Persons of rank or professional men sat for their portraits in them.
About the Artist
Unknown
The artist designated as "Unknown" in our virtual museum's collection exemplifies a poignant chapter in art history: creators whose identities have faded into obscurity despite the enduring power of their work. With only one known artwork attributed to them in our holdings, this figure represents countless anonymous hands that shaped visual culture across centuries. Museums worldwide, including th...