“Ceapsa” (a small bonnet or cap made of white cloth) is a component part of the headdress, worn by married women in some areas of Transylvania and Banat. The bonet (“ceapța”) in the picture is specific to the “horned combing” or “horned headdress” from Hațeg Country where the headdress gave a distinctive note to the female attire.

The bonnet, worn at the back of the head, had the purpose to cover the bun that supported and tied the strands of hair twisted and gathered in a chignon, towards the crown. At daily work, the bonnet was worn uncovered. On holidays, a long, white cloth was attached to the bonnet. The chignon being placed on the crown, and the cloth hanging with the ends over the back, the head was mostly uncovered.

The artifact pictured has a trapezoidal shape, made of white cotton cloth, and has a rich decoration arranged in two registers: a wide band at the bottom and, perpendicular to it, a narrow band separating the two horns of the bonnet. The decoration consists of geometric motifs embroidered with black and polychrome dark red, pink, green, purple, and gray wool, and white and yellow cotton threads. Ornamental motifs can be found in the decoration: ram’s horns, shepherd’s hook, wolf’s fangs, rhombuses. Commercial lace is applied at the base of the bonnet, and the piece was fixed with a string.

The artifact with inventory no. 54 entered the M.E.T. heritage in 1923 and it was purchased from the town of Clopotiva, Hunedoara county, Hațeg Country.

Text: Anca Zahaniciuc  - MET museographer

Photo: George Ciupag – MET photo-video museographer