Cap
Item
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Title
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Cap
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Description
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This reddish-brown closely knitted cap with flat crown, has lost original felt surface and presumably bright red color. The cap has a slightly projecting brim of reverse stocking stitch construction. there are the remains of strings attached at each side suggesting that the cap was meant to be tied at the crown. Size suggests it may have belonged to young boy/small adult male however its was popular during the time for men to wear these caps on the side of the head, rather than on top. The manufacture of caps during this time was mandated from 1488 on control by Act of Parliament. In 1571, the “Cappers Act” stated that every person above the age of six years (excluding women and noblemen) shall wear a “on Sundays and Holidays a cap of wool, thickens and dressed in England” in order to keep the domestic production alive. This attributes the owner as securely in the middle class.
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Date
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1500-1550 AD
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Type
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Hat
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Format
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Stocking stitch, Reverse stocking stitch
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Provenance
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Collection of Mr. James Smith of Whitechapel. Sold at Sotheby, Wilkinson & Hodge Auction, Lot 89, on 19 November 1901.
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Identifier
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1566-1901
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Access Rights
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Personal use access with restrictions (Maximum 4000 copies, or 5 years digital use; No book jacket, or homepage lead image use; Maximum A5 print / 768px digital use; Images © Victoria and Albert Museum, London)
