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This is a cream silk baby's cap or bonnet, with lace and ribbon trimming. It was given to the donor at the age of 7, by a lady of 90 who had worn it as a baby. It therefore probably dates from c.1832. The donor used it when playing with dolls.

1 baby's cap: silk; lace; ribbon; good condition

MERL 'Handwritten catalogue' form – 'CAP (BABY'S) // See Recording Forms. // cream silk bonnet with lace and ribbon trimming. it has an embroidered pattern on it.', MERL Recording form – 'Additional information // This was given to me just before she died by an old lady who wore it as a baby. She was over 90 years old when she died, and I had it before I was 7, (for after that age I was not allowed to play with dolls) so that makes it about 130 years old. // It has been wrapped up in blue tissue paper and packed away in a box, which possibly accounts for the excellent condition. // In appearance it reminds me very much of the caps the babies wear in some of the 17th + 18th century Dutch paintings.', MERL Recording form – 'Baby clothes // Long day gown // nightdress // Back flannel // Short day gown // Bonnet + veil // Additional information // The two day gowns are made of [?] (a very fine cotton Italian woven); the nightdress is made of longcloth, and the back flannel of an extremely good quality fine flannel. Such garments were the daily wear of infants when I was born, in 1911. These were in everyday use and were made by my French Great-Grandmother, my Great Aunt Rose and my mother. The garments themselves are not very remarkable, but the hand sewing is absolutely exquisite, not one stitch by machine. Notice on the long gown how the underarm seams of the sleeves are joined by "insertion"; how exactly measured every tuck, every seam, and every gather picked up separately, while the amount of material in each gather is exactly the same as all the others. My family certainly were fine needlewomen. // The bonnet is rather grubby, but I am afraid to clean it as the silk is so frail. Incidentally boys wore hats and girls bonnets, so it was possible to identify the sex of a new baby at a glance. // No baby ever went out without a veil over its face in this period, even in the hottest days, so the veil must go with the bonnet. // Only the ribbon in the sleeves of the short dress is new, and the lace at the neck and sleeves of the nightie being rather worn has been replaced.'

1832 - 1832