It's a Christening cap!

This is a short Blog to share my recent learning with you. I do love to examine textiles that I haven't seen before, but am also frustrated when I cannot find any research to explain them.

This little beaded and knit cap is so attractive, but I had never seen caps with similar designs and really couldn't find any information about them.

Then I went to my old resource, the superb Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, which has the largest collection of caps online and if you have the patience to trawl through page upon page of historic caps, you are likely to find a similar piece!

And I did!

The tiny cap shown in my shop - a mystery for a while!

Here are the caps at the Met Museum, with their Accession numbers - all are made of knitted cotton and glass beads, and note the star shape at the crown.

Met Museum Accession Number 32.157.

Christening cap.

First half 19th Century.

Here the star shape at the crown is knitted with fancy knit.

Met Museum Accession Number 1975.213.5

Christening cap. Early 19th Century.

Star shape made from beads.

Met Museum Accession Number 1975. 213. 3

Christening cap.

Early 19th Century.

Note the strong star shape of beads to this one.

All the caps shown here are described by the Met Museum as 'European'. Mine came from Germany, which ties in perfectly. The only difference is that mine has a lace edge. The Lace Mentor says that this lace MIGHT BE 'Tonder lace' from Denmark, and I wonder if was added later in the circa 1850's. The lace is heavily pleated so she did not want to be too specific from a photograph.

MYSTERY SOLVED!

Thank you for reading.