Cap first quarter 19th century American Not unlike the stylish bicycle helmets worn by today's children, this is a beautifully made example of protective headwear worn by children in the early 19th century. Known as bumpers or pudding caps (for their resemblance to the shape of pudding or pudding bowls) these padded helmets were commonly worn by small children learning to walk to protect their heads from any falls. A linen or muslin cap was worn underneath. The quality of materials and craftsmanship used in this particular example suggests that this cap was owned by an affluent family.. Cap 156170