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
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.
Object number1964.83.0
MarkingsEmbossed in gold on the crown lining is an eagle and shield with filagree or vines around a circular vent hole. Below this is, "BAKER & McKEENEY/ New York."On View
On view
