These pics don’t do this delightful concoction justice. Something about it says Edwardian to me, but I’m also thinking the 50s or 60s. There is quite a bit of fragility about it and the fabric underneath has deteriorated badly and leaves little black flecks all over the wearer. I think the sequined dangly things are supposed to hang down, as well as that strategically placed feather in the front. It’s modeled by both my very shy 13 year old and a mannequin head too. Thank you for your help!
In the words of the song "Where did you get that hat?" !! seriously though, it's origin may offer a few clues. I get an almost costume like vibe from the photos.
There is an ongoing flea market type store here where I live. The owner of this store goes around and buys up estate sales, which is how he stocks his store. You never know what you will find in that amazing place. I have found very old, pre-1900s clothes and hats there. My most amazing find, aside from this hat, was a gentleman’s suit from 1915 with a tail coat, pants and two coordinating vests. I will have to post pics of that one, now that I think of it. Anyway, that’s where I got this hat.
This one will be a little bit difficult to correctly ID without my holding it in my hands to examine it closely and feel the trims and see each part of the hat in person to determine what is original to the hat and what is not, and if and how it has been altered. From what I can see, the hat is an original antique hat from the very early Edwardian era, or very late Victorian era. Right around 1900. It is missing the lining, which would have held some important clues. It appears to have been altered and added to, probably for use as a costume. The only feather I can see is a single coque feather which I highly doubt is original to the hat and should be removed. The black sequin or beaded (?) dangling loops look strange like that, and should not be hanging down, and so were moved from their original place up on the hat or were added. The bow looks correct but I cannot tell if it is original without seeing and touching it. It should be silk velvet ribbon, and if it is not then it is not original to the hat. The rest of the hat looks original. Again, without actually seeing it, this is just a good guesstimate on my part.
Barb, you are good!! Your information had me going back to examine this hat and I found you were right on every point. For starters, I had to laugh because that single feather was literally just dangling there, stuck on by the merest fiber and clearly not belonging to this hat. I took that off. You were right about the dangling things. They were a modern addition. I removed them which made the age of this hat more apparent. I think the sequins are original. I did discover that the center of the flowers are pink, and so is some of the trim, leading me to suspect the flowers and trim were all a more vibrant pink in the past. The bow is a very high quality, heavy feeling fabric, velvet on one side and a soft silky feel on the other. I think it’s original because it’s made of the same material used underneath it, only what’s underneath is very deteriorated. There is evidence that there was some ivory colored lining sewn inside and that it was some kind of satiny stuff. The thread that held it is still there as well as just a tiny bit of lining left. Updated pics, in order - the bow, the pink flower, the pale pink trim, the tulle, what remains of the lining, the deteriorated underside and then four more pics showing the removal of the modern trim.
