Burgundy velvet top hat, pp. s. XX – France

About the Item

Exquisite high-top hat made of soft maroon velvet with a lined interior. Short, curved brim, slightly inclined. Due to its morphology, we estimate that it is a piece from the beginning of the 20th century, around the years 1910 and 1920. The colorful and elegant high-crowned hat, also known as a top hat, has its origins in 1797, when the Englishman John Hetherington went for a walk with an accessory never seen before. It was a tall hat, with a narrow brim and made of a shiny material. As the story goes, the man caused passers-by to stare in shock, women to faint, and arrest for disturbing public order, from which he escaped after paying a fine of 500 pounds. That was the revolutionary beginning of the top hat that reigned in the men's wardrobe during the 19th century. Men like Abraham Lincoln or Prince Albert of England did not separate themselves from him. From the 1930s onwards, however, its use was relegated to bowler hats and other types of hats that were more practical and consistent with use in the city. The top hat then began to be used in more formal events, a use that still continues today, although in a more minority way. Dimensions: 16 x 35 x 25 cm. / Circumference: 60 cm. Universal size: XL English size: 7 3/8 American size: 7 1/2

Style:

Victoriano (Of the Period)

Place of Origin:

England

Period:

1890-1899

Condition:

Wear consistent with age and use.

Seller Location:

VALLADOLID, ES

Reference Number:

1stDibs: LU3268222672082