- Designed by
- E.M. Swaim, American
- Created by
- Merrimac Hat Company, American, 1838 - 1970
- Subject of
- Black Fashion Museum, American, 1979 - 2007
- Date
- ca. 1950
- Medium
- fur felt, silk satin, silk net, petersham rayon ribbon, and elastic
- Dimensions
- H x W x D x C: 2 × 6 1/2 × 7 1/2 × 20 in. (5.1 × 16.5 × 19.1 × 50.8 cm)
- Description
- A black hat with a bow and decorative net veil. The body of the hat is made of black blocked fur felt. The top of the crown is flat and is rounded at the sides. An inverted "V" shaped cut out is placed at the center back of the hat. A black silk satin ribbon bow is handstitched to the center back of the hat at the top of the cut out. Another bow is sewn at the bottom of the cut out. This bow is tacked on proper left and right back of the cut out which creates the illusion that the ribbon serves as an adjustable drawstring. A silk net veil is tacked to the center back of the hat at the bottom bow and to the sides of the cut out. The fur felt of the hat's exterior is folded at the edge to the interior. A petersham rayon ribbon sweatband is handstitched overtop of the folded felt securing it to the interior. There is a black elastic strap secured to the sides of the hat behind the petersham ribbon with tacking stitches. Two large basting stitches in white thread mark center front of the hat on sweatband. A fabric label is sewn to the interior at the top of the crown that reads [E.M. Swaim NEW YORK]. Another label is stamped underneath this that reads [Merrimac SUPERIOR FUR FELT].
- Cataloging Notes
- This project received Federal support from the Smithsonian American Women’s History Initiative Pool, administered by the Smithsonian American Women’s History Museum.
- Place made
- New York City, New York, United States
- Collection title
- Black Fashion Museum Collection
- Classification
- Clothing - Fashion and Historical
- Type
- caps (headgear)
- hats
- Credit Line
- Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of the Black Fashion Museum founded by Lois K. Alexander-Lane
- Object number
- 2007.3.433
- Restrictions & Rights
- No known copyright restrictions
- Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.




