This bonnet was worn for half mourning. A widow would often wear black for two years after the dealth of her husband, and for a year for other family members. The following year she would wear black with shades of mauve and grey. So nice to have a label in the hat and know who made it. I wonder whether this was her original mourning bonnet and then she added the mauve for half mourning.
The brim with two layers of gathered black ribbed silk, the top with a purple silk ribbon, a large silk veil with drawnwork edges, attached to the flat crown, the interior of the hat with machine made lace to the rim, with an inner purple silk satin gathering with adjustable ties, the crown with black ribbed satinised cotton, the drawstring with the label The Misses Johnson, 10a Darley Str, Bradford on a tape label inside the hat, all over a flexible base (sized muslin?).
In very good condition apart from the two ribbons for tieing which are completly shredded. The ribbon to the top of the bonnet is slightly shredded, but could probably be conserved.
Hats and Bonnets from Snowshill by Althea MacKenzie.
Price: £80 | $100 | €100
Ref N°: 8584
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