Woman's Hat
MillinerMade by
Mrs. M. Asper
(American)
Dateabout 1894
MediumHand-stitched and machine-stitched silk velvet, with silk lining, faceted beads, square and round sequins with thread all of gold-colored metal, wire, stiff material for the frame, and feathers
DimensionsPrimary Dimensions (length x height minus decorations x width): 8 1/2 x 2 1/2 x 8in. (21.6 x 6.4 x 20.3cm)
ClassificationsCostume
Credit LineConnecticut Museum of Culture and History collection
Object number2003.56.0
DescriptionWoman's hat made of olive green silk velvet, heavily decorated with gold-colored beads, sequins, and thread. The bonnet is shaped to perch on the head: the frame underneath has no brim and very little height for the crown. The brim of the hat is formed by a folded strip of the velvet, 2 1/2 inches wide, formed into inverted pleats around the crown. This strip is caught up at one side by a piece of black gauze fabric sewn to the top of the crown and under the brim. The back of the hat has a pseudo bow of the velvet with pointed ends supported by wire. A third point of velvet sticks up from the crown next to the feathers, which are directly above the black gauze. The crown of the hat is trimmed with swirls and lines of couched metallic thread emanating from a central circle. Faceted beads and circular and square sequins are also used heavily in this decoration. All the metal parts appear to have been gold-colored originally. Flat, thin, metal strips have been stitched around the very outside of this decoration. These strips, difficult to see, appear to have been made with a silver-colored metal. The hat is lined with black silk strip, stitched all around the inner edge and pulled up at the center back. The label, gold print on black silk, is visible on the silk lining beneath.
Status
Not on view
