Hat
1996 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Milliner David Shilling had no formal training. A banker by trade, he began designing hats in the mid-1970s for his mother Gertrude to wear to Ascot. Many of David Shilling’s Ascot hats were witty and whimsical. ‘Less about couture and more about theatre’ is how the designer described his most extreme creations. This hat is a typical expression of Shilling’s dramatic flair. Brightly coloured marabou feathers completely cover a large, cone-shaped silhouette and a visor of metal mesh frames the face. Curled strips of wire mesh adorn the tope and sides. The hat is completed by a sprinkling of battery-operated lights over the surface.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Marabou feathers with metal and L.E.D. light system |
| Brief description | Hat of marabou feathers with metal visor and L.E.D. light system, designed by David Shilling, probably in Great Britain, 1996 |
| Physical description | Hat made of multi-coloured marabou feathers with a metal visor and L.E.D. light system. |
| Dimensions |
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| Gallery label |
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| Credit line | Given by David Shilling |
| Historical context | "Less about couture and more about theatre" is how David Shilling describes his most extreme designs for Ascot. He deliberately sets out to capture attention with oversized, outlandish and amusing designs. |
| Summary | Milliner David Shilling had no formal training. A banker by trade, he began designing hats in the mid-1970s for his mother Gertrude to wear to Ascot. Many of David Shilling’s Ascot hats were witty and whimsical. ‘Less about couture and more about theatre’ is how the designer described his most extreme creations. This hat is a typical expression of Shilling’s dramatic flair. Brightly coloured marabou feathers completely cover a large, cone-shaped silhouette and a visor of metal mesh frames the face. Curled strips of wire mesh adorn the tope and sides. The hat is completed by a sprinkling of battery-operated lights over the surface. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | T.456-1996 |
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| Record created | September 17, 2003 |
| Record URL |
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