Top Hat
Original OwnerOriginally owned by
William Hooker Gillette
American, 1853 - 1937
HatterMade by
Henry Heath Limited
English
RetailerSold by
The Luke Horsfall Company
American, founded 1882
Dateabout 1900-1910
MediumHand-stitched silk plush, silk, leather, cotton/wool, shellacked muslin, wool
DimensionsPrimary Dimensions (height x width x depth): 6 5/8 x 9 1/2 x 11 1/2in. (16.8 x 24.1 x 29.2cm)
ClassificationsCostume
Credit LineGift of Mark Lamos
DescriptionMan's black silk plush top hat, with the brim slightly dipped in front and back and the edge bound with black grosgrain ribbon. The crown is flared towards the top. The hat band is a strip of black wool fabric, 1 1/4 inches wide. The interior is lined with cream-colored silk and interlined with shellacked muslin to make it stiff. The leather sweatband is 2 1/4 inches wide. A white silk ribbon bow decorates the back of the sweatband.
Object number1998.18.1
MarkingsPrinted label inside top of crown: "BY WARRANTY TO/ HIS MAJESTY THE KING/ ESTABLISHED IN THE REIGN OF KING GEORGE IV/ HENRY HEATH/ LIMITED/ 105,107,109, OXFORD ST. W/ THE LUKE HORSFALL COMPANY/ HARTFORD, CONN./ (Sole Agents)". A gold "G" is applied below the label. The Henry Heath information is incorporated into a royal crest with a lion and unicorn, crown and sceptre. The sweatband is marked in purchased letters: "WAG".On View
Not on view
