Unlocked: History of United States in 100 Objects -- Beaver Fur Hat, 1590-1670

Unlocked after 1 year for patrons only: A tall “stovepipe” hat, which was made in the 1600s out of felt from beaver fur and likely belonged to a powerful member of the English Parl A tall “stovepipe” hat, which was made in the 1600s out of felt from beaver fur and likely belonged to a powerful member of the English Parliament, illustrates the extraordinary value of finely made hats, which fueled centuries of colonization, exploration, diplomatic feuding, and warfare all across North America, as European empires and Native American nations competed fiercely for control of the lucrative fur trade. Costume history blog post on beaver hats, with comtemporary artworks, by Gail Kellogg Hope: https://artbeautyandwell-orderedchaos.blogspot.com/2011/04/beaver-hats.html Dissertation by Elizabeth McFadden, on “Fur Dress, Art, and Class Identity in Sixteenth- and Seventeenth-Century England and Holland,” at: https://escholarship.org/content/qt79w6n34n/qt79w6n34n.pdf?t=q6z2rg Alice Morse Earle’s “Two Centuries of Costume in America,” vol. 1, 1620-1820: https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/10115/pg10115.txt Weiss Gallery page with portrait of Sir Rowland Cotton (1581-1634) holding a felt hat: https://www.weissgallery.com/artworks/categories/2/9411-paul-van-somer-c.1577-1622-sir-rowland-cotton-1581-1634-of-alkington-painted-1618/