Woman's Riding Hat
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Description
This small top hat belonged to a woman or a child, because of its size. It is presumed to be a riding hat made of silk. The inside identifies the hat as manufactured by Knox of New York, and sold by Stove & Fisher, manufacturers and dealers of hats located in Fall River, Massachusetts.
During the nineteenth century, only women of high status were taught how to ride on horseback. This is because only wealthy families could afford to own horses. Women were taught to ride side-saddle, and dress up for the occasion, which included the wearing of a top hat. With all of the fast-pace riding and jumping, one wonders how they would wear these hats without them flying off mid movement. Horseback riding was a status symbol, and was a great way for the aristocratic families of the time to flaunt their prestige (Pinfold). As more people came to wealth, they started to own more land, and horses were the perfect addition to their estates. A woman knowing how to ride a horse reflected well on her family and her upbringing. The original owner of this hat was certainly not a member of the middle or working classes. She was most likely a daughter or wife of a very well-to-do man, and was raised in an affluent area in New England.
References
Pinfold, John (2008) “Horse Racing and the Upper Classes in the Nineteenth Century,” Sport in History, 28:3, 414-430, DOI: 10.1080/17460260802315496
Blum, Stella. Victorian Fashions & Costumes from Harper's Bazar, 1867-1898. New York: Dover Publications, Inc. 1974. Close-up of the fashion plate is from the June 16, 1894 edition of Harper's Bazar on page 271.
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Shove & Fisher, Fall River, Massachusetts