Textiles and Stuff

Description

This is a beautiful example of an early 19th Century baby’s bonnet, probably dating from the 1830s. It is made of very fine cotton and has a frill round the back of the neck and a treble frill round the brim, both with a very fine narrow hem. The crown has four channels for drawstrings to adjust the fit, all of which are still visible. There is also a drawstring at the back of the neck. The bonnet also has ties of cotton fabric which may be later. The crown is gathered on to a circular piece of white-work embroidery, with a tiny flowers and a larger one in the centre, the centres of which are executed in very fine needlepoint. The whole bonnet is worked by hand.

The only damage I can find is a small brown stain on the frill near the fastening, which can be seen in the photograph and a tiny slit in the frill just beside it. Apart from this the bonnet is in excellent condition.

This is a lovely little bonnet, very typical of its period, with the fastenings at the top of the crown and would make a good example for a collection.