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Object Timeline
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Cap (Spain)
This is a Cap. It is dated late 18th century and we acquired it in 1951. Its medium is silk and its technique is knitted cap, knotted tassel. It is a part of the Textiles department.
A Spanish Knitted Cap
That knitted caps enjoyed great popularity in eighteenth-century Spain can be seen in the many extent examples located in museums in the United States and Europe. Cooper-Hewitt has a very fine cap that was acquired in 1951 as a gift from the generous donor, Richard C. Greenleaf. Knitted in dark red silk, the cap is primarily patterned with diagonal ribs while the very top has a geometric arrangement of diamond-shapes and triangles. The dramatic tassel, at nearly twenty-three inches in length, is formed from two twisted skeins of yarn that have rings of knotted silk and tufted chenille attached. There is ample evidence showing that men and women wore knitted caps on celebratory occasions. They were an important accessory of native dress in Spain, and no artist expressed this innate “Spanishness” better than Francisco Goya (1746–1828), who painted a lively scene set alongside a river in Picnic on the Banks of the Manzanares that depicted knitted caps and other forms of Spanish dress.
Red knitted caps also make an appearance on a Cooper-Hewitt nineteenth century painted fan (1931-6-141) showing a large group on a country excursion seemingly interrupted by a bullfight. The women wear mantillas over their colorful dresses while the men are shown in a variety of costume. The bicorne hat, breeches, waistcoat, and coat suggest French influence while Spanish costume is signified by embellished short jackets and breeches worn with sashes and red knitted caps. Most visible on the left side are the bullfighter and another man kneeling on a log by a stream. Both wear red knitted caps with elongated tassels, evidence that forms of dress from an earlier period continued to influence romantic and stereotypical images of Spanish costume and culture.
This object was featured in our Object of the Week series in a post titled A Spanish Knitted Cap.
This object was
donated by
Richard Cranch Greenleaf (American, 1887–1961).
It is credited Gift of Richard C. Greenleaf.
- Tassel (Italy)
- linen.
- Bequest of Richard Cranch Greenleaf in memory of his mother, Adeline Emma....
- 1962-51-14
- Nightcap
- silk, metallic yarn (silver foil wrapped around silk core), flat foil strip.
- Gift of Richard C. Greenleaf in memory of his mother, Adeline E. Greenleaf.
- 1952-47-1
- Cap (Morocco)
- wool.
- Gift of Woman's Day Magazine.
- 1966-54-1
Our curators have highlighted 9 objects that are related to this one. Here are three of them, selected at random:
- Man's Cap (England)
- silk and metallic embroidery on linen foundation, metal spangles.
- Bequest of Richard Cranch Greenleaf in memory of his mother, Adeline Emma....
- 1962-53-11
- Nightcap (France)
- wool embroidery on linen and cotton ground, silk binding, silk and metallic....
- Gift of Richard C. Greenleaf in memory of his mother, Adeline E. Greenleaf.
- 1952-47-3
- Man's Two-horned Cap
- raffia, wool, cotton.
- Gift of Mrs. Benjamin Ginsburg.
- 1960-242-1
Its dimensions are
H x W: 25.1 x 25.1 cm (9 7/8 x 9 7/8 in.) Tassel: 58.1 cm (22 7/8 in.)
Cite this object as
Cap (Spain); silk; H x W: 25.1 x 25.1 cm (9 7/8 x 9 7/8 in.) Tassel: 58.1 cm (22 7/8 in.); Gift of Richard C. Greenleaf; 1951-105-35
This object was previously on display as a part of the exhibitions Making Design and Extreme Textiles: Designing for High Performance.
