Cap

Capil

Note: The following text is taken from a 19th-century collection catalog and, in its language and perspective, partially reflects colonial thought patterns. We present the text in its original version to make the collection's history transparent and promote a critical examination of the colonial legacy. Certain terms and formulations may be perceived as problematic today. A 2009 research project concluded that most descriptions are factually correct and still usable; only a few details were found to be inaccurate or incorrect. The results of this project were published in the following collection catalog: https://khm-wmw-tm-library.on.worldcat.org/oclc/1457155265

"329 - 330. Caps - "Tjapil".
Two real Javanese head coverings, original and national. The shape recalls a European eyeshade of a person who is suffering from an eye-sickness. The cap is only a large visor above the eyes which is attached to a ring that goes around the head. The cap has no covering at the top but only a part for the forehead which goes above the visor in a point to the crown. This cap, which leaves the crown open and only shades the eyes, only serves to protect the eyes from sunshine. The head itself is covered tightly in a blue head cloth, on top of which this peculiar head covering is set. These caps are made of stiff paper or leather, covered with black cloth; one of the present caps has a gold border, the other is decorated with black glass beads. Such a head-covering is worn in daily life in the street by every true Javanese, high and low. It is a typical head-covering that is only to be found among the Javanese. The peculiar shape of this cap that has no top is determined by the fact that the Javanese have long hair which is wound together at the back of the head and formed into a knot towards the crown on top of which a normal cap could not sit; for this reason the crown of the Javanese cap is left open."