Mid-19th Century French Oval Pigskin Leather Hat Box with Original Top Hat

$1,500

About

This exquisite, antique pigskin hat box was crafted in Rouen France, circa 1870. This leather box with brass bottom, features leather straps and handle embellished with decorative brass nail heads, and the inside is dressed with the original red upholstery; the case also has the original black felt “Haut-de-Forme” (or High Hat), labeled J. Poinsard, Dijon. The travel box is in excellent condition commensurate with age and use, and has a rich patinated brown leather finish. This hat suitcase would make a unique addition to a trunk or fashion accessory collection. A top hat (also called a high hat, a cylinder hat, or a topper), is a tall, flat-crowned hat for men traditionally associated with formal wear in Western dress codes, meaning white tie, morning dress, or frock coat. Traditionally made of black silk or sometimes grey, the top hat emerged in Western fashion by the end of 18th century. Although it declined by the time of the counterculture of the 1960s, it remains a formal fashion accessory. A collapsible variant of a top hat, developed in the 19th century, is known as an opera hat. Measures: 13.5″ W x 12″ D x 9.5″ H.

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