Hat thumbnail 1
Not currently on display at the V&A

Hat

ca. 1925 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This cloche-type hat is made of smooth pink plaited straw. It has a deep round crown with a decorated band of brown chevron around it. The narrow brim is trimmed with brown cord at the edge. The front of the crown displays a panel formed by lines of petersham ribbon in orange and magenta. The panel encloses a decorative trim of bold stylised flowers in appliquéd felt and velvet in pink, magenta, green, peach and orange. The cloche has a black lining. It was made in England about 1925 by Kilpin Ltd of London.

Cloches were probably the most iconic hats of the 1920s. They were made of straw, fabrics and especially felt. The high, bulbous crowns lent themselves to experimentation with pleating, beading, embroidery, appliqué and trimming. Although they were held to be brim-less, cloches had small frontal brims from 1922 to 1925, and longer, asymmetrical brims from 1926.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Plaited straw, applied felt and velvet, lined
Brief description
Hat of straw, made by Kilpin Ltd, London, ca. 1925
Physical description
Cloche style hat made of smooth, pink plaited straw. It has a deep, round crown with a brown chevron decorated band around it. Its narrow brim is trimmed with brown cord at the edge. The front of the crown displays a panel, formed by lines of petersham ribbon, in orange and magenta. The panel encloses a decorative trim of bold stylised flowers in appliquéd felt and velvet in pink, magenta, green, peach and orange. The hat has a black lining.
Dimensions
  • Crown height: 13cm (approximate)
  • Brim width: 20cm (approximate)
Style
Production typeLimited edition
Marks and inscriptions
'MADE IN ENGLAND KILPIN LTD LONDON W' (Woven label, silver on black)
Object history
Historical significance: Probably the most iconic hat of the 1920s, cloches were made of straw, fabrics and especially felt. The high, bulbous crowns lent themselves to experimentation with pleateing, beading, embroidery, appliqués and trimming. Although they were held to be brimless, cloches had small frontal brims from 1922 to 1925, and longer and asymmetrical brims from 1926 onwards.
Subject depicted
Summary
This cloche-type hat is made of smooth pink plaited straw. It has a deep round crown with a decorated band of brown chevron around it. The narrow brim is trimmed with brown cord at the edge. The front of the crown displays a panel formed by lines of petersham ribbon in orange and magenta. The panel encloses a decorative trim of bold stylised flowers in appliquéd felt and velvet in pink, magenta, green, peach and orange. The cloche has a black lining. It was made in England about 1925 by Kilpin Ltd of London.

Cloches were probably the most iconic hats of the 1920s. They were made of straw, fabrics and especially felt. The high, bulbous crowns lent themselves to experimentation with pleating, beading, embroidery, appliqué and trimming. Although they were held to be brim-less, cloches had small frontal brims from 1922 to 1925, and longer, asymmetrical brims from 1926.
Collection
Accession number
T.442-1977

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Record createdJanuary 8, 2003
Record URL
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