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Bonnet Veil

1860s (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

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.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Machine net and lace, decorated with straw work and glass beads
Brief description
Bonnet veil of net and lace, veil made in France, straw decoration probably made in Switzerland, 1860s
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.
Dimensions
  • Width: 48.3cm
  • Depth: 15.2cm
  • Width: 19in
  • Depth: 6in
Credit line
Given by Mrs K. Prater
Historical context
France was the leading manufacturer of straw-decorated objects until the mid-nineteenth century.
Production
Straw decoration probably Swiss made
Subjects depicted
Summary
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.
Bibliographic reference
Persson, Helen. 'Straw - the Blond Goddess: The Adaptation of Folk Tradition to Fashion' in Costume, no 38, 2004, pp. 50-62.
Collection
Accession number
T.772-1972

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Record createdAugust 19, 2002
Record URL
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