Hat
Unknown Artist
18th century
Medium
straw
Classification
Hat
Culture
probably British
Department
Costume Institute
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Mrs. F. D. Millet, 1913
Accession Number
13.49.35
Art Historical Context
This delicate straw hat, crafted by an unknown artist in 18th-century Britain, offers a charming glimpse into Georgian-era fashion from the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute. Donated in 1913 as a gift from Mrs. F. D. Millet, it exemplifies practical elegance of everyday headwear, woven from natural straw fibers that provided essential sun protection during outdoor pursuits. In the 1700s, straw hats like this one were staples of women's summer wardrobes, reflecting the era's romanticized pastoral ideals and the influence of rural life on urban style. Artisans skillfully plaited th...