Unusual Vintage Hatboxes in Demand

Ralph, Kovel, Terry, The Florida Times Union

Hats were an important fashion accessory in centuries past. Women's hats were big, and they had veils, feathers and trim that needed special care.

A hat would be stored in a special box or kept on a stand. In the 17th and 18th centuries, men's hats were large and expensive, so they were also stored in hat cases, which were often made of leather. The tricorn hat was popular in the 18th century, and the hat cases and boxes were made in the appropriate three-cornered shape.

Women kept their hats in bandboxes. The oval boxes were usually made of ash, pine or another flexible wood, or even cardboard. The boxes were often covered with specially designed wallpaper or painted designs. By the late 19th century, stores furnished a hatbox with a large man's or woman's hat. Some were octagonal, some were rectangular and some were made in unusual shapes. There was even a form-fitting box …

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Publication information: Article title: Unusual Vintage Hatboxes in Demand. Contributors: Ralph - Author, Kovel, Terry - Author. Newspaper title: The Florida Times Union. Publication date: August 14, 1999. Page number: Not available. © 2007 The Florida Times-Union. COPYRIGHT 1999 Gale Group.

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