Hatpin
A hatpin is a decorative pin for holding a hat to the head, usually by the hair. In Western culture, a hatpin is almost solely a female item and is often worn in a pair. They are typically around 20cm in length, with the pinhead being the most decorated part. The hatpin was invented to hold wimples and veils in place, and was hand-made. In Britain, demand eventually outgrew the number that could be supplied by hand-making, and they began to be imported from France. In 1832, an American machine was invented to manufacture the pins, and they became much more affordable. During the 1880s, bonnets gave way to hats and the popularity of hatpins soared. They remained a standard womens' accessory through the 1910s and were produced in a vast range of materials and types. Hatpin holder boxes were also produced. Laws were passed in 1908 in America which limited the length of hatpins, as there was a concern they might be used by suffragettes as weapons. Also by the 1910s, ordnances were passed requiring hatpin tips to be covered so as not to injury people accidentally. Various covers were made, but poorer women often had to make do with ersatz items like potato pieces and cork. Hatpins are also collectible items, and there is an American Hatpin Society for collectors in the U.S. and The Hat Pin Society of Great Britain for collectors in the United Kingdoms (www.hatpinsociety.org.uk).
[edit] References
Media related to Category:Hatpins at Wikimedia Commons
- Encyclopædia Britannica <[1]> Accessed August 16, 2005.
- The Encyclopedia of Hatpins and Hatpin Holders by Lillian Baker
- http://www.miniatures-and-collectibles.com/hat-pins.html
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