Hat
1750-1770 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
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.
Object details
| Category | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Feathers, linen and silk, hand-stitched with silk and linen thread |
| Brief description | Woman's hat decorated with feathers, British 1750-70 |
| Physical description | Woman's hat, round 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. |
| Dimensions |
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| Credit line | Purchased with Art Fund support and assistance from the Friends of the V&A, and a number of private donors |
| Object history | 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. |
| Summary | 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. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | T.90-2003 |
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| Record created | November 18, 2003 |
| Record URL |
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