Art Institute of Chicago

Man's Cap

England

Date

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

Culture

England

Department

Textiles

Institution

Art Institute of Chicago

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.

The authoritative record is held by Art Institute of Chicago. LinkedCulture surfaces this object and its connections; it does not alter institutional metadata.