Man's Uniform Chapeau Bras
HatterMade by
Baker & McKeeney
(American)
Date1872-1882
MediumPrimarily hand-stitched black fur-finished silk, probably over cardboard, with plain-woven silk crown lining, a patent leather sweatband, gold bullion tassels, silk grosgrain ribbon edging and cockade, velvet, and gold metallic embroidery
DimensionsPrimary Dimensions (length front to back x height): 17 x 5in. (43.2 x 12.7cm)
ClassificationsCostume
Credit LineMuseum purchase
Object number1964.83.0
DescriptionOfficer's Connecticut Militia or Connecticut National Guard uniform chapeau bras. Largely hand-stitched of black fur-finished silk, presumably over cardboard. The tape trims may be machine-stitched. Set into the crown of the hat is a 1/2-inch-wide, circular ventilator, consisting of six holes covered with silk or cotton netting. (Ventilators are included in officer's hats beginning in 1872.) The hat has a brown patent leather sweatband. It is lined in the crown with white plain-woven silk. The maker's mark is stamped in the crown in gold (see Marks).
The hat appears to conform to United States Army regulations of 1872: the center front and center back are adorned with gold bullion tassels; and the leaves are edged in 3/4-inch-wide silk grosgrain ribbon (one half inch of which is exposed on the outside of the leaves). On the proper right leaf are two bands of 1 1/2-inch-wide, black, silk grosgrain ribbon, each extending upward and outward toward the front and rear edges of the leaf. In the middle of the proper right leaf is a oval-shaped, black, silk grosgrain ribbon cockade, 4 1/2 inches tall x three inches wide. An embroidered oval of dark gold or light brown velvet, 3 1/2 inches high x 2 1/2 inches wide, is sewn over this cockade. Over the layer of velvet, a gold metallic oval is embroidered. Inside the gold oval, the Connecticut state seal is embroidered in gold thread over a pair of crossed United States flags, also in gold embroidery, with blue silk embroidered cantons. Above the state seal is a Federal eagle, in gold metallic embroidery. All of this is hard to see, because the embroidery is tarnished.
The hat appears to conform to United States Army regulations of 1872: the center front and center back are adorned with gold bullion tassels; and the leaves are edged in 3/4-inch-wide silk grosgrain ribbon (one half inch of which is exposed on the outside of the leaves). On the proper right leaf are two bands of 1 1/2-inch-wide, black, silk grosgrain ribbon, each extending upward and outward toward the front and rear edges of the leaf. In the middle of the proper right leaf is a oval-shaped, black, silk grosgrain ribbon cockade, 4 1/2 inches tall x three inches wide. An embroidered oval of dark gold or light brown velvet, 3 1/2 inches high x 2 1/2 inches wide, is sewn over this cockade. Over the layer of velvet, a gold metallic oval is embroidered. Inside the gold oval, the Connecticut state seal is embroidered in gold thread over a pair of crossed United States flags, also in gold embroidery, with blue silk embroidered cantons. Above the state seal is a Federal eagle, in gold metallic embroidery. All of this is hard to see, because the embroidery is tarnished.
Label TextThis traditional bicorne dress hat, also called a chapeau bras, belonged to a Connecticut militia officer in the 1870s. It was typically worn only at ceremonial events.
Status
On view
