This very very rare bergere was in the collection of Han van den Broeke who was a fine artist and an expert on the regional dress of Zeeland. See comments column.
the fine plaited straw (leghorn) lined with a mid blue silk brocade woven with small white flowers with green leaves and some silver highlights, the ground with undulating ribbon woven in silver, attached with woven red silk striped ribbons, 17 in or 44 cm dia.
The brim is a little nibbled in places and there are a couple of breaks to the straw. The ribbons are damaged. There is a stain to one side of the brocade approximately 5 in x 2 in or 13 x 5 cm. Photos available. This would be a good conservation project.
Han van den Broeke was a collector of local dress from an early age and was the Founding director of the Walcheren Costume Society and conservator of the Schotse Huizen (The Scottish Houses) in Veere. The Scottish Houses were originally the homes of Scottish wool merchants in the 16 th century making Veere their Dutch base. He was collaborator on the standard work The Zeeland Traditional Dress 1800 - 2000 pub 2005 There is a large part of van den Broeke's collection in the Zeeuws Museum in Middelberg, some currently on display. Zeeland was in the 17th and 18th centuries one of the most populated and prosperous areas in the republic. The book mentions that the rich ladies wore their bergere when going out for a stroll. The brocade has the selvedge showing in the crown of the hat.
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