Bonnet, black straw capote trimmed with blue velvet, silk ribbons in blue and dark orange, and artificial flowers, 1880s, interior view

1880s. Black straw capote (bonnet) made of a narrow braid sewn to itself as it coils out from center back to form the bonnet.
Wire reinforces the perimeter, which is enclosed with a deep blue velvet fabric smoothly fitted to edge the entire bonnet. More blue velvet fabric is gathered at the inside top of the bonnet and wraps up over to the outside. Blue and deep orange silk ribbons emerge from beneath the wrap of velvet. One blue ribbon is accordion pleated along its length and follows the right side of the bonnet edge from center top to knot with the orange ribbon at the center back bottom. Two orange ribbons, which have fringed edges and satin-woven borders, encircle the entire bonnet.
Two pieces of the orange ribbon are folded into flowers and are sewn at the top of the bonnet along with two gold velvet fabric flowers. All flowers have green wire stems. The bonnet has blue velvet ties that pin together, with the one on the right having a permanent bow fastened to it.
Glazed black cotton lining.

The Irma G. Bowen Historic Clothing Collection digital catalog was produced by the UNH Library Digital Collection Initiative, supported in part by a grant from the Mooseplate program and New Hampshire State Council on the Arts. Additional funding provided by the E. Ruth Buxton Stephenson Memorial Fund.

Photography copyright, Astrida Schaeffer.