c. 1870s

Man's Smoking Cap

During the nineteenth century, men generally wore indoor caps only in bed. However, since gentlemen did not smoke around ladies, they withdrew to indulge in cigars, donning special jackets and smoking caps to protect their garments and hair from odor; this activity also offered a chance for escapism. Smoking caps were therefore typically exotic in shape—usually between a pillbox and a fez—and richly decorated, as shown in the woven and embroidered patterns on this example.