Aprilsattic
Registered Guest
I found a few bonnets at a sale and my research leads me to believe that they are mourning bonnets. I’m not sure of the circa. Any help would be much appreciated
Help dating vintage mourning bonnets
- Thread starter Aprilsattic
- Start date
Rue_de_la_Paix
VFG Member
These can be difficult to date to an exact decade, but here goes. First, there is no way to know if these were actually worn for mourning. Black bonnets were everywhere in the late 1800s and early 19th century too. If a bonnet was black it did not mean it was an actual mourning bonnet, although it certainly could be worn during the morning period. If worn for mourning there would be no colorful flowers, so these are either just everyday black bonnets or the flowers were added later. Purple or off white could be added for later mourning periods and I see one has pale purple blossoms.
Your first hat looks to be the "youngest" of the bunch. Maybe 1910 or even WWI era so when old ladies still wore that style. I am guessing this based on the lining.
The rest are late 1800s, 1880s and 1890s.
Your first hat looks to be the "youngest" of the bunch. Maybe 1910 or even WWI era so when old ladies still wore that style. I am guessing this based on the lining.
The rest are late 1800s, 1880s and 1890s.