Woman's Hat

Everyone has one item that they cannot leave home without.  It could be a winter coat, a purse, or sunglasses, but for women in the late 1800s it was their head accessory. More specifically, it was a bonnet. Women wore bonnets to enhance their appearance. They also shielded one’s face from the sun and helped maintain the pale complexion that signaled health and wealth. Bonnets framed the face, creating an illusion of a proportionally sized head. By the late 1800s, they were seen on nearly every woman.

This bonnet belonged to the grandmother of the donor and is dated to the year 1883.  A gold and purple brocade in a floral pattern covers the buckram base, and purple velvet is used for trimming. The upper part of the crown has a cluster of pink and purple flowers nestled in a velvet bow. The bonnet has two ties, one of which ends in a bow. The ties have snaps for adjusting the fit under the chin.

The bonnet is similar to one in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art dated 1885-1890. Its label says: "Mrs. M.J. Hunt, Importer, No. 1309 "F" St., N.W., Washington, D.C." Available at: https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/113028