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Bonnet veil

Bonnet veil

  • Place of origin:

    France (veil, made)
    Switzerland (straw decoration, probably, made)

  • Date:

    1860s (made)

  • Artist/Maker:

    Unknown (production)

  • Materials and Techniques:

    Machine net and lace, decorated with straw work and glass beads

  • Credit Line:

    Given by Mrs K. Prater

  • Museum number:

    T.772-1972

  • Gallery location:

    In Storage

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Straw is surprisingly versatile and makes attractive decoration. This veil would have been a very suitable and charming trimming for a straw bonnet of the period. The small semi-circular veil of black machine-made net is sprinkled with petite flower heads of stamped out straw, each with a black glass bead in the centre. Four three-dimensional bees made of straw veneer, black silk thread, beads and straw thread highlight the decoration. The straw motifs were probably made in Switzerland. Swiss straw products became more decorative from the 1840s, and all sorts of motifs were punched from straw sheets using custom-made dies.

Physical description

Small, semi-circular veil of black machine net with an added, open-work machine lace border. Along the straight upper edge is an added edging to take a draw string. The entire veil is embellished with tiny flower heads of cut straw, each with a black bead in the middle. Four three-dimensional bees made of straw veneer, black silk, straw thread and glass beads also decorate the veil; three are placed in the border and one in the centre.

Place of Origin

France (veil, made)
Switzerland (straw decoration, probably, made)

Date

1860s (made)

Artist/maker

Unknown (production)

Materials and Techniques

Machine net and lace, decorated with straw work and glass beads

Dimensions

Width: 48.3 cm, Depth: 15.2 cm, Width: 19 in, Depth: 6 in

Historical context note

France was the leading manufacturer of straw-decorated objects until the mid-nineteenth century.

Descriptive line

Bonnet veil of net and lace, veil made in France, straw decoration probably made in Switzerland, 1860s

Bibliographic References (Citation, Note/Abstract, NAL no)

Persson, Helen. 'Straw - the Blond Goddess: The Adaptation of Folk Tradition to Fashion' in Costume, no 38, 2004, pp. 50-62.

Production Note

Straw decoration probably Swiss made

Materials

Cotton; Silk; Glass; Straw

Techniques

Cut; Machine made lace

Subjects depicted

Floral; Bee

Categories

Embroidery; Fashion; Accessories; Hats & headwear; Lace

Collection code

T&F

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Qr_O67096
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