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Italian Paper Hat
1860's

of oval shape, the rich cream coloured paper embossed with a woven straw design, the crown piped with navy blue and ivory narrow plaited braid, the lower crown and brim similar, the former with the addition of blue chiffon entwined with the double plaiting, the front with three 'leaves' similarly edged, a cut steel buckle holding a pale blue satin ribbon and a blue ostrich feather,
the inside with Perlina printed on paper in a shield and flanked by laurel leaf sprays, the head support covered in twill weave cotton, 9 in; 23 cm long.

Comments

Extremely rare and most interesting.

Condition

Quite dusty, this needs a conservator to work a little magic on it. The steel buckle is rusty, but I am sure this could be remedied. The paper is dented and needs some attention. It is also cracked in two places. The underside has a wire edging and some of the blue chiffon. The wire shows and the chiffon has been damaged.