Pointed cap, 19th c.

Pointed cap, 19th century, I-Taranto. USA-Chicago, Field Museum of Natural History, FMNH 2461 (MS Inventory 18).

Collection label: ”Pinna (P.) nobilis (Linné) / Taranto, S. Italy. Ward’s Natural Science Establishment”

 Sea silk, plain right knit, jagged edge 2 rows left stitches, small tassel, length 21 cm, Ø base ca 22 cm, slightly damaged in the upper third.

This cap belonged – together with the gloves (MS-Inventory 19) and the muff (MS-Inventory 20) – to the exhibits of the World Columbian Exhibition of 1893 in Chicago, the second World Exhibition on North American soil. Together with other natural history objects sold by Ward for $95,000, they form the basis of the collections of the Field Museum of Natural History, which was founded shortly afterwards. More about this in the chapter Historical aspects → Modern times → Fairs and exhibitions → USA.