Friday, December 7, 2012

Mid Century Straw Bonnet







From the seller:

This is an amazing rare Victorian 1860's spoon bonnet in a fancy woven straw.
It may have never been worn due to the paper lining, fabric label on the back rim, and a paper label is still intact inside the bonnet.
The bonnet is near mint with only one tiny break in the straw (photo).
This is a must have for hat collectors!


Measurements:

outside brim edge.....29 3/4" around.
inside head opening.....17".
back.....3 1/2" by 4 1/2".
front to back........6 1/2".
back to side......5 1/2".

From Me:

I'm not sure about the 1860's date but let's go with that for now...  Based on the comment below, we'll go with late 1850's, going into the 1860's instead.  So this is probably what would have been worn at the outbreak of the American Civil War. 

3 comments:

  1. Hmm... very close. I think it's right about 1859, say 1858-1861 to be sure. The long cheek pieces aren't found at any other time, but it also has no spoon shape: it's not tall at the front, and not cutaway at the sides. The flare visible from the back is more typical of very late 1850s bonnets.

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    1. Thank you! I wasn't sure (I'm not as good with hats as I am with clothing) but I knew it was somewhere "American Civil Warish". Thanks!

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