A thought about the tricorn is that the owner comes from boterstraat (Butter Street), Alkmaar.The owner likely to be a merchant in the dairy industry. This town was the centre of this prosperous dairy farming area West Fries land.While his wife would be wearing her imported Norwich damask is it not likely he ordered his hat from Amsterdam or the Hague( the crest in the crown's lining).Hence the address label !! Mark Wallis of Past Pleasures www.pastpleasures.co.uk has seen the tricorn and felt it was late 18th century and very very rare. Despite the box being damaged, it is nevertheless the original box and rather exciting to see. The paper expert Jacques Koops expained that the stripe paper was a popular lining for travel items such as boxes and cases. His book'' Decorated Paper Designs 1800 " a Pepin Press Design Book.pub 1997 has the same striped paper. The outer paper of the box is hand splattered ''kievit papier'' ( plover paper ) an imitation of the plover eggshell.In Holland each spring the first eggs found of the plover's nest are presented to the Queen as a sign that spring has begun.
the outside of the box covered in hand made paper with a speckled/sponged effect in black, red on cream, labelled with an address in Alkmaar , Boterstraat(Holland), the inside lined with a magenta and cream striped paper (later) over a pale grey Greek key pattern paper, the hat of beaver with 2 1/2 in high crown, a black ribbed silk band and bow, the three sides of the brim turned up, one with a silk damask braid loop, the brim 3 1/8 in deep , circumference 20 1/2 in or 52 cm; the underside with a band of leather lining the rim, the crown lined with brown cotton,, stamped in gold with a crest or coat of arms.
The hat needs blocking as it is a little crumpled. The brim has some wear and there are a few areas of slight wear to the crown and brim. The diagonal stitches can be seen on the brim. The inside leather trim has come away and has a piece missing from the back, 1 in at the widest part. The seal or coat of arms is very feint and cannot be read. The under brim has some small areas of wear and marks. This hat has been well worn. The box is quite damaged as you should be able to see in the photos. The printed papers are delightful. The cardboard can clearly be seen in several places. The top box is coming away on one side, but this could be conserved. The large natural coloured paper label has three lines of writing which is difficult to read. Perhaps with time, patience and a very good magnifying glass......
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