Bonnet
MillinerMade by
Unknown
Dateabout 1860-1865
MediumHand-stitched braided straw with silk ribbons, faux flowers (in fabric, beads, and straw), wire, beads, lace and silk fabric for lining
DimensionsPrimary Dimensions (height x width x depth): 10 1/2 x 8 3/8 x 6in. (26.7 x 21.3 x 15.2cm)
ClassificationsCostume
Credit LineGift of Mariette Newman Fitch
DescriptionWoman's bonnet made from a narrow, 1/4-inch-wide strip of finely braided straw. The bonnet base is made in three parts with a brim, crown, and curtain of straw. The bonnet is decorated with a confection of flowers and leaves made from plain fabric, velvet, wire, chenille, unidentified fibers, lace, beads, and straw.
The brim is a narrow 2 1/2 inches wide at the center top and extends down on either side to a point five inches below the straw braid at the back. The ties, made from 3 1/8-inch-wide green silk ribbon with white, black, and green stripes on each edge, are folded to the points; they then extend for about 23 inches. The inside of the brim is lined with off-white silk. The inside edge is trimmed with covered wire, lace, and fabric flowers and leaves, some on wires with faux buds. The center of the brim on the outside is decorated with a medallion made of straw and stitched with white and black beads. Under the medallion is a bow of the same ribbon used for the ties. A second decoration on the proper right side, set among all the faux flowers, is a fall of four rows of long black beads (each about 5/8 inch long) alternating with black velvet stamped flowers at the top and pink flowers at the lower half of the six-inch string. A third smaller medallion is on the proper left side. The round crown of the bonnet has shallow sides from one inch deep at the bottom to about three inches deep at the center top. A narrow curtain of straw is attached below the center top. A narrow curtain of straw is attached below the crown, with a curtain of pleated plain green silk ribbon two inches wide beneath. The crown is half-lined with a white silk faille. An oval of brown paper is glued to the inside of the crown in the center, where the spiral pattern begins.
The brim is a narrow 2 1/2 inches wide at the center top and extends down on either side to a point five inches below the straw braid at the back. The ties, made from 3 1/8-inch-wide green silk ribbon with white, black, and green stripes on each edge, are folded to the points; they then extend for about 23 inches. The inside of the brim is lined with off-white silk. The inside edge is trimmed with covered wire, lace, and fabric flowers and leaves, some on wires with faux buds. The center of the brim on the outside is decorated with a medallion made of straw and stitched with white and black beads. Under the medallion is a bow of the same ribbon used for the ties. A second decoration on the proper right side, set among all the faux flowers, is a fall of four rows of long black beads (each about 5/8 inch long) alternating with black velvet stamped flowers at the top and pink flowers at the lower half of the six-inch string. A third smaller medallion is on the proper left side. The round crown of the bonnet has shallow sides from one inch deep at the bottom to about three inches deep at the center top. A narrow curtain of straw is attached below the center top. A narrow curtain of straw is attached below the crown, with a curtain of pleated plain green silk ribbon two inches wide beneath. The crown is half-lined with a white silk faille. An oval of brown paper is glued to the inside of the crown in the center, where the spiral pattern begins.
Object number1952.69.39
NotesHistorical Notes: According to museum records, this bonnet sold for three dollars.Subject Terms
On View
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