Bonnet
Unknown Artist
ca. 1882
Medium
straw
Classification
Bonnet
Culture
American
Department
Costume Institute
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Mrs. Hortense Ferne, 1943
Accession Number
C.I.43.101.2
Art Historical Context
Step into the elegant world of 19th-century American fashion with this charming straw bonnet, crafted around 1882 by an unknown. Dating from the Gilded Age, when opulent styles met practical everyday wear, this piece captures the refined yet functional headwear popular among American women. Bonnets like this were essential accessories, shielding delicate complexions from the sun while signaling social grace and modesty. Made entirely of straw—a lightweight, breathable material ideal for spring and summer—the bonnet showcases traditional plaiting techniques, where thin straw strips were meticu...