|
Collections     
Paint Decorated Leather Parade Hat - Red
 Mouse-Over to MagnifyClick to Enlarge   Paint Decorated Leather Parade Hat - PRICE ON REQUEST Possibly Pennsylvania, Circa 1840 Painted leather 6 x 13.5 x 12.5 inches With scrolled brim, in red paint with gold lettering and black accents, the top bears initials "G.S.", while the sides bear word "WESTERN" and initials "WEC". Early fire hats probably originated around 1740 and were probably made by saddlers and leather workers. They were most commonly painted red, black, green or blue, with contrasting lettering or ornament. The central field depicted an image that was chosen by the fire company, with the initials of the owner on the top. The stovepipe form of the earlier hats eventually gave way to hats with extended protective brims but the stovepipe hats were still created and worn for parades and ceremonial events. For more information on antique fire hats, see Courtney E. Booth and Robert E. Booth "Parade Hats of America's Early Volunteer Firemen," The Magazine Antiques (April, 2004), pp. 94-103. Provenance: Austin T. Miller American Antiques deals in American Folk Art, Americana, and Antique Folk Art. Valuation services and consignment sales are available for rare and important antique folk art, artwork, textiles, or antique furniture. Commonly sought items from within our American Folk Art Collection are antique weathervanes, whirligigs and folk art paintings. Austin T. Miller American Antiques has decades of expertise in rare outsider and naive art, as well as specific interests in paint decorated and antique furniture, baskets, and hooked rugs. For consignment sales inquiries, please use the contact link on this site or call during business hours.       |