A Collection to Stick With: Hat Pins and Holders

I shop the estate sales, auctions, yard sales, antique malls, and thrift shops a lot! But one thing I rarely find is an antique hat pin. I think collectors keep them to themselves, not sharing with newbies who might want to get into that area of hoarding. I have only found them when they are either a) quite common with just a ‘bead’ top, or b) reproductions or those that have been formed from other sources and ‘married’, or c) magnificent and extremely expensive.

Hat Pins by Lillian Baker

I recently purchased a value guide on “Hatpins and Hatpin Holders”, an older book from 1983 (more recent ones are of course available.) It has such lovely pictures and a provided a lot of information; it has been quite an interesting read. The book by Lillian Baker begins with a brief introduction and states that “A hatpin was used to securely fasten a hat to the head of the wearer.” They measured from 4” to 12” in length and were worn from approximately 1850-1930. Because of the various sizes, it was common to have more than one of them. But while this was a functional item, it also enabled women to discard the bonnet strings (some felt it liberated them from apron strings as well) and adopt the masculine attire – the hat – as their symbol of equality.

Hatpins were not only utilitarian but were “also a jeweled accessory which surely was the most decorative and functional in the closet of women’s fashionable deceits.” There were actually laws written which governed the length of hatpins, how they could be worn and further restrictions placed upon them relative to public accomodations and transportation. A headline in 1910 created the “international hatpin crisis” and called them society’s newest and most dangerous lethal weapon. Another article in The Paris Mail of 1909 reported “From Illinois: To limit the length of women’s hatpins to nine inches, and make them take out permits for longer ones, just like all deadly weapons.” Laws began to require that all dangerous points of hatpins by covered by guards. Another story in London’s popular Daily Mail of 1908 printed a story about the jailed suffragettes. They were allowed to appear in court with hats, but without hatpins! The removal of hats was tantamount to a forfeiture of dignity for no lady would be seen bare-headed in public, no less a courtroom!

Hat Pin Design Elements

I found it to be a fascinating book, not only for the historical insight if offered but the description and nomenclature of period hatpins and how they were originally made.

It is most likely that collectors of today add to their selection because of the beauty, various metals and precious stones used and the works of art they incorporated, rather than the history of these pointy objects. The Satsuma hatpins were exported from the Japanese Islands in the early 1900s and are fantastic! Hand painted, many with real gold paint, lots of beading, or moriage, and Asian symbols such as fire-breathing dragons.

Japanese Hat Pins

Others examples were sterling with art nouveau stylized women, arts and crafts designs, and figurals such as a shoe or sweet pea.

Art Nouveau Hat Pins

 Some of my favorites are the art nouveau pieces circa 1910. They were made of brass with a lot of filigree work and faceted stones.  

Art Nouveau 1910 Filigree

Others were made of cloisonne, or hand-painted china. Gorgeous pieces of mini-art!

Cloisonne

And, of course, you need the proper display vehicle, the hatpin holder for m’lady’s vanity or dressing table! Makers included W.A. Pickard, Royal Doulton, Schaffer & Vater (S&V), SNE of Nagoya, Nippon, and many Bavarian and German porcelain companies.

I have been told that I already have a lot of collections, and where will I find room for more. Well, collecting hatpins just might be the answer. Small, you can put 4-6 in one little holder, and quite beautiful. Let the search begin!

We Found This Site For Collectors Or Interested Parties.