Hat

Physical description

Hat of woven green straw trimmed with a pin that has a bobble on each end. It is unlined and has a hatband with a grosgrain back and green velvet front.

Place of Origin

Paris, France (made)

Date

ca. 1960 (made)

Artist/maker

Cristóbal Balenciaga, born 1895 - died 1972 (designer)

Materials and Techniques

Woven straw, grosgrain, velvet

Historical context note

This object is part of the collection of Mrs Fern Bedaux, given to the museum by Miss E Hanley, the heiress and niece of Mrs Bedaux. Mrs Bedaux purchased her whole wardrobe regularly from Balenciaga and the collection was very large; some was kept by Miss Hanley, some send to the Costume Museum in Bath; and some was received by the V&A.

Mrs Bedaux was the very wealthy widow of American millionaire office systems pioneer Charles Bedaux. Mr and Mrs Bedaux lived in the sixteenth century Chateau de Cand in France. The Duke of Windsor was married there after his abdication as King Edward VIII in 1936.

A TV documentary entitled "The Champagne Safari", follows the Bedauxs and their entourage on an expedition through Canada. Charles Bedaux had some ties with the Nazi party and was a controversial figure.

Descriptive line

Hat of woven straw, designed by Cristóbal Balenciaga, Paris, ca. 1960

Exhibition History

Hats An Anthology by Stephen Jones (Victoria and Albert Museum 24/02/2009-31/05/2009)
Hommage a Balenciaga (Musee des Tissus, Lyon 01/09/1985-31/01/1986)

Materials

Straw

Techniques

Weaving

Categories

Fashion; Accessories; Hats & headwear; Women's clothes

Collection code

T&F