Description:
Man's tall or top hat made of taupe, or light brown, dyed beaver fur with a high, slightly oval crown, which was made by Byron Greenough (1798-1871). Greenough settled in Portland in 1821, coming to Maine from Haverhill, Massachusetts, to open a retail business in hats, caps, fur coats, gloves, robes, and blankets. One of the oldest established firms in Portland, the business was very succesful. A brim 2 3/8" wide encircles the entire crown, and is arched at the sides. The point of attachment to brim is decorated with a matching grosgrain ribbon. The brim itself is edged with matching silk tape. Inside, the crown is lined with a 3" high band of leather, both for fit and to protect the hat from oils, etc., on the wearer's head and hair. The rest of the high crown is reinforced with parchment. The inside top of the crown has a piece of parchment stitched all around, and embossed or stamped with the maker's crest. Tall hats made of bleached or dyed beaver fur were popular in men's fashion during the second quarter of the 19th century.
Label Text:
By the turn of the 19th century, the fashionable man’s hat became taller and more slender. These tall, or top, hats were made from dyed beaver fur, silk, or even palm leaf. Crown height and silhouette shifted throughout much of the century, as did the width of the brim. All, however, have in common an inherent, if impractical, luxury.
Subjects:
Textile fabrics; Leather; Silk Link to share this object record:
https://museums.fivecolleges.edu/detail.php?t=objects&type=ext&id_number=HD+2000.69.1 |
