Attributed to
Smith-Mason, Helen, American, 1911 - 1985
Subject of
Black Fashion Museum, American, 1979 - 2007
Date
1940s
Medium
wool twill with wool yarn, glass beads, silk velvet, and synthetic taffeta
Dimensions
H x W x D: 25 × 9 × 7 × 12 1/2 in. (63.5 × 22.9 × 17.8 × 31.8 cm)
Description
A red beaded cap with brown silk velvet ties. The outer layer of the cap is composed of four wool twill triangular pieces that are herringbone stitched to each other with dark brown wool yarn. There is a single dart on the right and left front of the hat. Dark brown and light brown wool yarn are looped together at center top, forming a squatchee. Each red panel of wool fabric is hand embellished with light brown cross stitches and seed beads – silver glass seed beads for the proper front left and proper back right panels, and black glass seed beads for the proper front right panel and the proper back left. A brown silk velvet fabric tie is sewn to the bottom of the back left and right triangular panel. The hat is lined with four plaid synthetic taffeta pieces that are handstitched together and stitched to the outside of the hat with a Herringbone stitch. The plaid lining is blue, red, yellow, and green. There is no label, but the name "HELEN MASON' is hand sewn in the CB interior lining.
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
hats
Topic
Clothing and dress
Craftsmanship
Fashion
Fashion design
Millinery
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
2007.3.607
Restrictions & Rights
No known copyright restrictions
Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
GUID
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/fd509d5c4d2-79f5-44a8-b607-779490547c54

Cataloging is an ongoing process and we may update this record as we conduct additional research and review. If you have more information about this object, please contact us at NMAAHCDigiTeam@si.edu

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