Navy portrait hat by Mr. John from Mae's Millinery Shop

Source catalog description

This description refers to material held by Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture. Visual details below describe the original material.

A navy blue wool felt portrait hat made by Mr. John from Mae's Millinery Shop. The brim of the hat is formed asymmetrical to the crown so that it tilts slightly upward on the proper left side. A thin piece of the felt is sewn around the crown as a hatband with one end left loose at the center back. Lengths of black synthetic net are gathered in undulating waves and sewn to the top and bottom of the proper left brim. The interior crown edge is lined with black grosgrain ribbon. A white fabric label with black embroidered text reading "NEW YORK PARIS / MR. JOHN / MODERNE" is sewn at the interior center back crown. An oval-shaped white paper label with black printed text reading the same as the fabric label hangs from black thread at the interior center back.

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