cap
- Museum number
- 2008,2025.100
- Description
-
Cap composed of four sections of cotton. The outer layer of the cap is completely embroidered with a grid of diamond shapes (dyed green cotton) filled with diamonds formed from small squares in dyed light and dark blue, dyed orange, red, yellow and bleached white cotton. The top of the hat is decorated with a central white circle with a border formed in the same pattern as can be seen on the body of the hat. The top of the cap is finished with a 'knot.'
The cap is lined with two sections of plain machine woven cotton dyed blue.
- Production date
- 22 November 1970 ((?) Purchased by vendor)
- Dimensions
-
Diameter: 15 centimetres
-
Height: 14 centimetres
- Curator's comments
- Multicoloured embroidered caps are a key element of Hausa dress. The popularity of these caps has developed over the last 20-30years. This increase in popularity coincides with the expectation that all men will cover their heads. During this time there has also been a simplification of dress leaving the more cumbersome forms of head covering behind in exchange for the simpler cap (Heathcote 1975 The Nigerian Field Vol XL).
- Location
- Not on display
- Acquisition date
- 2008 (8 September)
- Acquisition notes
- This collection was made over a ten year period in the late 1960s and early 1970s when the vendor and collector, Dr David Heathcote, was Head of Art History at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, northern Nigeria. His PhD research focused on the study of Hausa embroidered dress; this collection was formed as a result of his extensive field research.
- Department
- Africa, Oceania and the Americas
- Registration number
- 2008,2025.100
- Additional IDs
-
Miscellaneous number: C110 (Heathcote collection number)
