That is a type of folk art and a piece of history. The girl or woman who made them had no idea that her clothes would be in the media for others to see. She would have thought newspaper, not UA-cam, though.
Is there a textile museum where you are? There's one up here in Toronto, Canada. I wonder, what unrest, as people settled in the area, shipping records? I know bonnets were frequently altered, as styles changed, but it didn't look like that had signs of alterations. So fascinating!! I went to the archives in Toronto, & got to see a pair of y-front breeches, (that had been found also in an attic in the rafters), they had sooooo many patches from wear & tear by the owner, you could hardly tell the original foundation from all the patches😮 I'm sure you already have, how old was the house in which the bonnet was found. I know that wouldn't indicate at all the age, but I wonder if it might help with how it arrived there. What an exciting mystery!!❤
Great ideas! I don’t know even the circumstances of the donation beyond that it was predominantly WWI uniforms/equipment. The bonnet came to me because I’m a bonnet-maker known to the scholar who received the donation.
This reminds me a lot of quaker bonnets from the 1810s-1840s. Minimal decoration in a shade of brown silk. I'd need to do more research on Quakerism in North Carolina to feel content in that speculation though.
@@lucasmcinnis5045 thank you for this information! I know there are quakers here-a Friends school and meeting house is across the street from my work. Also the bonnet may have originated elsewhere and wound up in NC-I don’t know that it was made here, only that it was found in storage here.
Possibly! I’m at a loss because I can find fashion plates (& satirical cartoons) depicting this style as far back as 1810 but with the state of North Carolina in the early 1800s (deep divisions across the state and conflict over the War of 1812) I don’t know if current fashion was known to the population- I’m sure they were maybe 20years behind the times given the speed of media then.
Excellent question and one I've been wondering about too! I didn't find any hidden interior seam allowances in another color so there probably hasn't been fading from something like sun exposure. I have seen overall degradation of color from longevity/age, like how sometimes very old black clothes turn brown or green with age, but it's possible this was just someone whose wardrobe was predominantly brown.
❤
Fascinating
That is a type of folk art and a piece of history. The girl or woman who made them had no idea that her clothes would be in the media for others to see. She would have thought newspaper, not UA-cam, though.
@@ThinkForYourself2025 exactly! I love thinking about things like that.
I really enjoyed your presentation, as well as the thoughtful comments, questions, and replies! (What a cool community!) I’m subscribing right now!
Thank you and welcome!🙏
Is there a textile museum where you are? There's one up here in Toronto, Canada. I wonder, what unrest, as people settled in the area, shipping records? I know bonnets were frequently altered, as styles changed, but it didn't look like that had signs of alterations. So fascinating!! I went to the archives in Toronto, & got to see a pair of y-front breeches, (that had been found also in an attic in the rafters), they had sooooo many patches from wear & tear by the owner, you could hardly tell the original foundation from all the patches😮
I'm sure you already have, how old was the house in which the bonnet was found. I know that wouldn't indicate at all the age, but I wonder if it might help with how it arrived there. What an exciting mystery!!❤
Great ideas! I don’t know even the circumstances of the donation beyond that it was predominantly WWI uniforms/equipment. The bonnet came to me because I’m a bonnet-maker known to the scholar who received the donation.
This reminds me a lot of quaker bonnets from the 1810s-1840s. Minimal decoration in a shade of brown silk. I'd need to do more research on Quakerism in North Carolina to feel content in that speculation though.
@@lucasmcinnis5045 thank you for this information! I know there are quakers here-a Friends school and meeting house is across the street from my work. Also the bonnet may have originated elsewhere and wound up in NC-I don’t know that it was made here, only that it was found in storage here.
Beautiful!!! Would you say 1812 to perhaps 1820? What a treasure!!!
Possibly! I’m at a loss because I can find fashion plates (& satirical cartoons) depicting this style as far back as 1810 but with the state of North Carolina in the early 1800s (deep divisions across the state and conflict over the War of 1812) I don’t know if current fashion was known to the population- I’m sure they were maybe 20years behind the times given the speed of media then.
Is there any sign if that was the original color of the fabric or if age changed it?
Excellent question and one I've been wondering about too! I didn't find any hidden interior seam allowances in another color so there probably hasn't been fading from something like sun exposure. I have seen overall degradation of color from longevity/age, like how sometimes very old black clothes turn brown or green with age, but it's possible this was just someone whose wardrobe was predominantly brown.