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Amgueddfa Cymru – Museum Wales
Edward Peake was a member of Wales’s first international rugby team. This cap was awarded to him in their first game ever. The game, on 19 February 1881, was against England. Wales were soundly beaten.
Rugby cap of salmon-coloured velvet; crown constructed from 6 triangular sections (seams covered with narrow metal braid). Centre: domed button covered with metal purl (button itself = probably wood, covered in white twill-weave cellulosic fabric, then metal purl stitched onto it). (Cap will probably have had a tassle but it no longer exists.) Centre front has raised heraldic device of the Prince of Wales Plumes and 'Ich Dien' Motto embroidered using blue silk, metal sequins, twisted metal wire and metal purl. '1880-81' is embroidered onto peak (metal thread). Lower edge of cap is trimmed with metal braid (width: 1.5cm), lower edge of peak is trimmed with same braid, but it is folded around the edge and is also stitched against the reverse of the peak. Peak stiffened (card?). Cap is lined with gold-coloured silk fabric (unbalanced tabby: thin warps, thick wefts, resulting in ribbed effect), 6 triangular sections stitched together. Maker's mark is stamped/printed in black onto the centre front section of the lining: 'Watkins, Newport'. Player's name is written in ink below: 'E. Peake'.
