Bonnet
Original OwnerOriginally owned by a member of the
Brainard family
(American)
MillinerMade by
Unknown
Date1858-1868
MediumHand-stitched braided straw, with silk ribbon trim, silk lining, loosely woven cotton lining, net, and wire
DimensionsPrimary Dimensions (height x width x depth): 10 1/8 x 8 x 6 3/8in. (25.7 x 20.3 x 16.2cm)
ClassificationsCostume
Credit LineGift of the estate of Eveline W. Brainerd
Object number1950.159.17
DescriptionWoman's bonnet made from natural-colored braided straw. The bonnet is trimmed with silk ribbon, 2 3/4 inches wide, patterned with small white checks broken by two black stripes on a black ground. The pattern of the braided straw is ornamental, creating a scalloped design along the outer edge of the strip. The brim is meant to angle slightly away from the face, more at the center top, which measures approximately 3 1/2 inches. The underside of the brim is lined with a very loosely woven cotton. There are thread pickings and heavier yarns under the brim which suggest the loss of other decorations. The inner edge of the brim underside, and perhaps the whole crown, seems to have been lined with a white silk fabric. This fabric is almost entirely gone. A heavy, covered wire is stitched along the edge of the brim for strength and shaping. This wire extends around the entire bottom of the bonnet. The brim ends extend down several inches below the back of the bonnet, creating two deep points at the chin line. The intersection between the crown and the brim is very indistinct. The crown measures approximately 3 1/2 inches at the center top, but there is no side to the brim at the bottom or back of the neck. The bottom edge of the crown is bound with a strip of plain braided straw. A narrow curtain made from straw is attached to the bound bottom edge. A wide ribbon is used to decorate the bonnet and create a curtain at the back of the neck. The ribbon is twisted and draped around the intersection between brim and crown, with a decorative bow stitched to the proper left side. A piece of the ribbon, lined with dark brown net, creates a curtain (a "bavolet") over that of straw, with double box pleats at the center back and double pleats to each side. There are no extant ties on this bonnet.
Status
Not on view
