** boys' caps: pudding caps








Boys' Caps: Pudding Caps


Figure 1.--This is a detail from a painting by Flemish artist Peter Paul Rubens (1635). The child is wearing a 'pudding' cap. This is the earlist example we have found so far. We also notice a fall cap in the Netherlands during the 20th century. (The Netherlands and Flanders are related.)

A 'pudding cap' was a a kind od toddler ceash hekmet. It was made with a cap that had a thick roll or cushion around the head. Sometimes the entire cap was padded, but most often the padding was only in a thick roll or cushion that circled the head. The caps were also worn in France where they were called a bourrelet. The name apparently comes from bourre'e, meaning to dance, because the movement of a toddler's first steps somewhat resembled dancing. We also notice examples from the Low Countries. These practical 'crash helmet' for toddlers caps were widely worn in the 17th century. One source suggests that they were most common in the 18th century. They seens to have disappeared by the the 19th century. We note, however, examples in the 21st century, although the term pudding cap is not use.

Definition

A 'pudding cap' was a toddler's cap wornas he or she was learning to walk. They were thick rolls or cushion around the head. The name of these caps [pudding] was probably the origin of the term 'puddin' head.' It is easy to imagine one affectionately calling a toddler "little puddin' head."

Design

Sometimes the entire cap was padded, but most often the padding was only in a thick roll or cushion that circled the head. This padding protected the head from injury when the little one fell. Babies still fall frequently at the toddler stage today, but in the days of long skirts and petticoats it must have happened almost every time a child tried to crawl or stand. Antique baby clothes usually show signs of heavy wear at he front hem, caused by its being caught between the floor and the child's knees or feet. Some museum dresses have the front hem completely worn to tatters.

Terminology

The pudding name pudding cap was a contemporary Ebglish term. It is believed it originted because of a resemblance to th pudding molds used in kitchens. Thy could b esily purchased. [Baumgartenp, p. 166.] This may hve given rise to the belief that children fallinh woild turn their little brains into yhe cmsistency pf pudding. W notethis as the origin of the term 'little pudding heads' for young children. We also notice the 'fall' cap, but these may nmot all be heavily padded. One report from late-17th century France refers to a boy wearing a] "pudding" cap, known in French as a bourrelet. The name apparently comes from bourre'e, meaning to dance, because the movement of a toddler's first steps somewhat resembled dancing. We also notice examples from the Low Countries.

Chronology

These practical 'crash helmet' for toddlers caps were widely worn in the 17th century. One source suggests that they were most common in the 18th century. They seens to have disappeared by the the 19th century. We note, however, examples in the 21st century, although the term pudding cap is not use.

Sources

Baumgarten, Linda. What Clothes Reveal: The Language of Clothing in Colonial and Federal America (New Haven: Yale University Press, 2002). According to Lindain What Clothes Reveal,

Worrell, Estelle Ansley. Children's Costume in America, 1607-1910, (New York, 1980, Charles Scribner's Sons), pp. 20 and 31





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Created: March 14, 1999
Last updated: 1:06 AM 2/13/2022