Wedding Bonnet
MillinerMade by
Unknown
Dateabout 1868
MediumHand-stitched ivory-colored silk or silk/wool crepe, silk ribbons, wire, net lace, and open-woven lining fabrics of cotton
DimensionsPrimary Dimensions (height x width x depth): 5 3/4 x 5 1/2 x 9in. (14.6 x 14 x 22.9cm)
ClassificationsCostume
Credit LineGift of Harriette Harrison
Object number1960.77.17
DescriptionWoman's bonnet of ivory-colored silk or a wool/silk crepe with ivory silk ribbons. The bonnet could also be called a cap. It sits on top of the head, with narrow sides extending down to points that fall at the ears. The shape of the cap at the top is an oval, with the edges curving out in front and back. The bonnet frame is covered with a finely spun silk or silk/wool combination that has either been finely crimped or is a crepe, creating a fine ridge. The frame of the bonnet was first covered with a flat layer of this fabric. The front edge is trimmed with a gather of the fabric that has been brought over the edge and stitched to the underside. This band is 1 3/4 inches wide at the center top, the widest part. It narrows as the edge in the front curves down to the points at the ears. The back edge is decorated the same way, with a wider band, two inches wide at the center and narrowing along the downward curve. The middle section has three applied strips of the ivory fabric. Several layers of the fabric have been folded to a width of 5/8 inch and are stitched to the top; one strip at the inner edge of the front gathers the second over the center and the third over the inner edge of the gathered trim at the back edge. Another strip is stitched to the underside of the bonnet at the back. The ties are stitched to the side points, beginning 4 1/4 inches from the end. The proper left side has an ivory-colored, three-inch-wide silk ribbon folded and stitched to the side. It is 10 1/2 inches long. The proper right side is made of the same ribbon and attached in the same way, with the addition of a large bow attached to the end. The pointed ends of this bow are trimmed with ivory-colored, net lace edging, 1 5/8 inches at its widest point. The ties were attached by a pin, evidence of which is seen on the underside of the bow. There are narrow silk ribbon ties under these, stitched to the very points of the cap. These are a light silk ribbon, 7/8 inch wide. The proper left is ten inches long and cut at a diagonal at the end; the proper right is 4 7/8 inches long and ripped at the end. The bonnet is lined with layers of an open-woven, ivory colored fabric. Thread-covered wire used to support the frame can be seen inside. The front is also lined with a semi-circle of a light-weight, open-woven black fabric that is very shiny.
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