Manufactured by
Cosmopolitan Hat Company, American
Worn by
Calloway, Cab, American, 1907 - 1994
Subject of
Cotton Club, American, 1956 - 1958
Date
1957
Medium
straw with textile materials , ribbon , feather and leather
Dimensions
H x W x D: 4 1/8 × 14 13/16 × 16 7/16 in. (10.4 × 37.6 × 41.7 cm)
Description
A purple boater hat from a costume worn by Cab Calloway at the Miami Beach Cotton Club for a Shakespearian Romeo and Juliet themed routine. The hat is constructed primarily from purple dyed straw. It has a flat top and a wide brim. The hat features a wide, gold, metallic hat band tied in a large flat bow around the proper left side of the crown. A bright yellow fragment of a feather is tucked into the bow. The crown is lined with light brown silk. A black circular stamp at the center of the crown features a shield device at the center with a profile of a squirrel and a lamp above. The shield is framed by pairs of laurel leaf branches on either side of the shield’s base. Black text printed above the shield reads [INCOMPARABLE EXCELLENCE]. Printed below the shield device is black text that reads [Cosmopolitan / NEW YORK]. The interior also features a leather hatband with another manufacturer’s stamp on the proper left side. The hat brim is edged in magenta.
Place used
Miami Beach, Miami-Dade County, Florida, United States, North and Central America
Place made
New York City, New York, United States, North and Central America
Collection title
The Cabell “Cab” Calloway III Collection
Classification
Clothing - Costume
Type
hats
Topic
Band (Music)
Clothing and dress
Composers (Musicians)
Conductors (Musicians)
Costume
Dance
Jazz (Music)
Musical Theatre
Singers (Musicians)
Credit Line
Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Cabella Calloway Langsam
Object number
A2015.273.1.2.4
Restrictions & Rights
Unknown - Restrictions Possible
Rights assessment and proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
GUID
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/fd509fec7f1-5604-49af-8e3f-b0c7ce10d2db

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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