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Hat

Hat

  • Place of origin:

    Great Britain, UK (made)

  • Date:

    1750-1770 (made)

  • Artist/Maker:

    Unknown (production)

  • Materials and Techniques:

    Feathers, linen and silk, hand-stitched with silk and linen thread

  • Credit Line:

    Purchased with the assistance of The Art Fund, the Friends of the V&A, and a number of private donors

  • Museum number:

    T.90-2003

  • Gallery location:

    In Storage

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Wide-brimmed hats with shallow crowns were popular for women in the mid 18th century. They were often made in a range of materials such as straw, openwork, paper and ribbon. This example shows the use of feathers of common origin, such as those from cocks or guinea fowl, dyed in a variety of colours for a vivid effect. Such hats were worn as fashionable daywear with short jackets and petticoats. They demonstrate the 18th-century trend for taking items traditionally associated with working-class dress and transforming them into fashionable styles.

Physical description

A round hat with a shallow crown and wide brim decorated with cock and guineafowl feathers in natural colours and dyed blue, yellow, red and green. The feathers are stitched to a linen ground which is lined with blue taffeta.

Place of Origin

Great Britain, UK (made)

Date

1750-1770 (made)

Artist/maker

Unknown (production)

Materials and Techniques

Feathers, linen and silk, hand-stitched with silk and linen thread

Dimensions

Diameter: 38.0 cm overall, Diameter: 13.2 cm crown, Height: 8.0 cm overall

Object history note

Formerly part of the Castle Howard Costume collection, the private collection of George Howard. Purchased on 7 October 2003 from the Sotheby's.

Historical significance: In the 18th century, wide-brimmed, shallow crowned hats were popular for women in a range of materials such as straw, openwork, paper, ribbons. This example demonstrates the use of feathers, of common origin, but dyed in a variety of colours.

Exhibition History

Hats An Anthology by Stephen Jones (Victoria and Albert Museum 24/02/2009-31/05/2009)

Materials

Silk; Linen; Feathers

Techniques

Hand sewing

Collection code

T&F

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Qr_O85963
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