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

$1,200

About

This exquisite, antique pigskin box was crafted in Rouen France, circa 1870. This leather box features leather straps and handle embellished with decorative brass nail heads, and the inside is dressed with the original red upholstery; the piece also has the original “Haut-de-Forme” (or High Hat). The piece is in very good condition commensurate with age and use, and has a rich patinated brown leather finish. This hat box would make a unique addition to a travel, 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 12.5″ D x 10.5″ H.

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