Authentic Gatsby Era Tangerine Plumed Hat From JR Libby Company, Maine

The Roaring Twenties roared with color! 

This rare Gatsby Era, tangerine plumed hat dates to the early 1920s. Tangerine or lemon against black were popular colors in that day, and this hat is exemplary! 

Those luscious tangerine colored ostrich plumes are indeed original to the hat. You will know this immediately if you closely examine the stitches and threads that connect the feathers to their wire foundation. 

The hat was initially sold at the JR Libby Company department store. This was a grand place located in Portland, Maine. The store resembled a smaller version of Selfridge’s and an early image of it may be seen on the Maine Historical Society’s website. 

The hat was created on a sturdy, oval, wired foundation and entirely covered with ultra fine, silk tulle. The outer ribs of the foundation were covered with braided black straw. This also spirals around the crown of the hat. Finally, the hat was swathed in luxurious tangerine colored ostrich plumes which remain brilliant to this day. Black and tangerine were a most stylish color during the early 20s. 

This hat is incredibly comfortable when worn and those long plumes float elegantly in the air. It was designed for wear pulled down low over the forehead, and may also be worn at a slight sassy tilt. This is quite a rare and beautiful 1920s millinery gem that is destined for a discerning private collector or museum. It is becoming increasingly difficult to find hats such as this in such wonderful overall, wearable condition. 

The hat features a strong interior silk satin lining that is blazing with color as well. The beautifully embroidered logo reads “La Rose Hats, JR Libby Co.” 

This hat is in excellent condition overall…some might even believe that it is a notch above excellent. The silk tulle is fragile, but intact. The hat is indeed wearable with tender loving care for special occasions…as its value remains true based on its amazing condition.  The size measures to fit a generous 22 inches or 56 cm.

A Portfolio: The Gilded Griffin

Original photography & text copyright 2015 J. Henri

     •••• Please use images and text with appropriate citations. ••••

Thank you!

This portfolio has been created to document the images and descriptions used within my online shop. This is where many of the antique and vintage hats, clothing, accessories and fine textiles that have been used in our research are sold. The Gilded Griffin shop supports the work we are doing on written projects about historical fashions and the women’s millinery industries.

If you would like to see more...

simply Google

The Gilded Griffin

for a link to the shop's current location 

or 

go to

http://www.rubylane.com/shop/thegildedgriffin

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Actual Film Footage of 1917 Fashion Show

1917 Fashions: Actual film footage and fabulous reference for anyone interested in antiquarian fashions & textiles. World War  Era

The Year Was 1912...actual historical film footage.

     Original photography & text copyright 2014 J. Henri

     •••• Please use images and text with appropriate citations. ••••

Thank you!

This portfolio has been created to document the images and descriptions used within my online shop. This is where many of the antique and vintage hats, clothing, accessories and fine textiles that have been used in our research are sold. The Gilded Griffin shop supports the work we are doing on written projects about historical fashions and the women’s millinery industries.

If you would like to see more...

simply Google

The Gilded Griffin

for a link to the shop's current location.

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Civil War Era Miser's Purse Dates to Circa 1862

From a Maine estate, this is a black silk miser's purse. It appears as though it was never used...or if so, then the original owner was very gentle indeed.  This Civil War era purse is unique and almost magical to examine, because there appear to be no openings. Yet, the strings do pull apart in such a way as to open the double pouches so that coins, paper notes or any type of small object may be inserted safely inside. The purse closes when the strings are

pulled back into place, and the openings become almost invisible.

Of course, the purse appears as though the coins are permanently inside since there's no obvious way to extract them. This is how the miser's purse got its name. 

The purse is crocheted with black, plied silk, hand spun yarn.

The silver washed metallic beaded fringe is interwoven, creating a braided effect that echoes the textures of the crochet work.  The metal ring allows the purse to be attached to the dress or worn over a finger. This miser's purse measures 17.5 inches or 44 cm in total length. 

Vintage Hat! A Glorious Fur Felted Floppy Hat From Swizerland!

This is a wonderful, classic floppy brimmed hat from the 1960s. It is made with luxurious heavyweight, long fibered fur felt and was

imported from Zürich Switzerland.

The brim undulates. It is strong enough to shape, depending on your mood. That is, the edge of the brim is meant to be tugged a little here or there...seductively...over one eye or the other.

This hat was first purchased by a very well-to-do lady during the mid-1960s. The story behind it is that the family took many trips to Switzerland for skiing vacations and the original owner purchased it during one of their pleasant times together. 

The brim is wider at the front than in the back of the hat. It has a tall crown...tall enough for tall hair or hair twisted up inside.... The felt is so soft, one cannot help but to stroke it.... 

This is a fine example of one of the last definitive styles found in antique and vintage millinery historical timelines.

Vintage Hat Vintage Hat Vintage Hat.... Oh! What a Great Vintage Hat!

Vintage Hat 

Vintage Hat

Vintage Hat

Oh!

What a Beautiful Vintage Hat!

Asymmetrical design with sharp tilts to one side of the head were ubiquitous millinery silhouettes during the early 1930s. This is an exquisite example dated to 1932.

Masterfully designed, the toque is made from heavenly soft, felted cashmere. Molded over a wooden millinery form, the hat drapes perfectly over the head in secure, comfortable style.

The hat's trim is absolutely exquisite. It is a long drooping pom placed at one side of the face. Each of the long, perfect barbs were selected and trimmed from off a luxurious black ostrich plume. These were gathered into a kind of bouquet, wrapped inside a felted cashmere holder and stitched firmly in place. The result is a drooping pom that gracefully dances in the air. 

The hat is so very soft, that one cannot help but to absent-mindedly stroke it. This is a fine example of what the early 1930s millinery masters created for the fashionable upper class woman. Unfortunately, the millinery label is missing...but the glamour remains.

The Gilded Griffin...Welcome!

This portfolio has been created to document the images and descriptions used within my online shop. This is where many of the antique and vintage hats, clothing, accessories and fine textiles that have been used in our research are sold. The Gilded Griffin shop supports the work we are doing on written projects about historical fashions and the women’s millinery industries.

If you would like to see more...

simply Google

The Gilded Griffin

for a link to the shop's current location.

     Original photography & text copyright 2014 J. Henri

     Please use images and text with appropriate citations.

Thank you!

Vintage Hat. This late 1930s hat has that forward thrusting crown and definitive style that was a favored design silhouette during this time. It is hand woven and made from straw.  The enormous bow is made from moiré taffeta and the hat is banded with black silk netting that is long enough to flutter in the wind.  No, the veiling was not designed to be a full face veil. It was added for textural interest and simply decorative. The hat is held in place with original elastic band on the interior and is faced with a French grosgrain ribbon. There is no millinery label...circa 1939.

Welcome to The Gilded Griffin...a Portfolio of Historical Fashions

This portfolio has been created to document the images & descriptions used within my online shop. This is where many of the antique & vintage hats, clothing, accessories & fine textiles that have been used in our research are sold. The Gilded Griffin shop supports the work we are doing on written projects about historical fashions and the women’s millinery industries.

If you would like to see more...
simply google

The Gilded Griffin

for a link to the shop's current location.

 Thank you!

     Original photography & text copyright 2014 J. Henri.