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Woman's Hat

Original OwnerOriginally owned by Mary Ledyard (American, 1735 - 1807)

MillinerMade by Esther P. Meyer (French)

Date1880-1959

MediumPurple velvet, gold-colored fabric, metallic threads, paste jewels, gold-colored beads with a gold-colored mesh interior, and heavy metal wire support

DimensionsPrimary Dimensions (height of crown x width x depth): 4 1/2 x 11 x 7in. (11.4 x 27.9 x 17.8cm)

ClassificationsCostume

Credit LineGift of Mrs. Phyllis Boss

DescriptionWoman's fancy dress hat, a confection of purple velvet with gold-colored fabric and beads and threads adorned with paste jewels. This hat was most likely made for a fancy dress ball, with an oriental feeling, in the latter nineteenth century. The brim is in two pieces, which extend out from the sides of the head. Made of purple velvet, these two pieces are gathered at the center front and back and puffed at the sides. The crown is made from gold-colored fabric, seamed from side to side to stand up from the head. It is heavily decorated with metallic threads combined with beads of varying sizes, also gold-colored. The faux jewels include large faceted purple pieces and red and green "stones" of a smaller size. At the back of the hat is a tail of purple velvet, meant to stand upright from the base of the crown like a bird's tail. The front and back edges are trimmed with a fringe of plastic purple, obviously an addition to the original hat. The underside has a support made from purple velvet covering a frame made from metal. Inside can be seen more heavy black wire used as support, and a gold mesh that is soft but appears to be superfluous. A small piece of fabric indicates the hat was once lined with white silk.

Object number1987.92.0

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