- Created by
- Unidentified
- Subject of
- Black Fashion Museum, American, 1979 - 2007
- Date
- late 19th century
- Medium
- horsehair, silk, buckram, cotton, horsehair ribbon, silk ribbon, silk bobbinet , cording, and wire
- Dimensions
- H x W x D x C (a. bonnet): 4 1/2 × 8 1/2 × 9 × 20 1/2 in. (11.4 × 21.6 × 22.9 × 52.1 cm)
- L x W (b. ribbon): 33 × 4 3/4 in. (83.8 × 12.1 cm)
- L x W (c. ribbon): 33 × 4 3/4 in. (83.8 × 12.1 cm)
- Description
- A horsehair bonnet with ribbons (a). The bonnet’s understructure is made from two layers, buckram and open-weave stiffened cotton with starch. The bonnet’s exterior is constructed of braided horsehair ribbon that spirals from the crown’s top and is attached with cotton thread. At the center front of the bonnet, a brown ribbed-silk ribbon forms two loose loops. A black silk faille ribbon is stitched behind the proper right loop. Underneath these loops, a brown ribbed-silk ribbon wraps around the bonnet. This ribbon is tucked and pleated to create different widths. At the center front and sides of the bonnet, the bottom edge is decorated with a gathered ribbed-silk ribbon. Black novelty open weave silk ribbon and ivory ribbed silk is gathered and attached at the center front of the bonnet's interior. Along the bottom edge, an internal wire wrapped in brown cotton thread is encased by brown silk bobbinet and brown ribbed silk ribbon. At the center front of the hat the wire is scalloped to support the ribbed silk ribbon’s decorative ruching. There is a brown ribbed-silk ribbon at the back of the hat at the interior. Horsehair braid and horsehair cording trim is added to the bottom edge of the bonnet at the sides and center back. The bonnet is entirely hand-stitched. The hat is paired with two black plain weave silk ribbons (b & c). The ribbons have one unfinished edge and one selvedge end. Both ribbons have many pin holes where they were previously pinned to the bonnet.
- 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.
- Collection title
- Black Fashion Museum Collection
- Classification
- Clothing - Fashion and Historical
- Type
- bonnets (hats)
- 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
- 2007.3.466abc
- Restrictions & Rights
- No known copyright restrictions
- Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.




