Dressed to Kill, Dressed to Till
Red morocco leather boy’s hat, with maker’s label pasted inside top of crown: "L. Brown’s / Wholesale & Retail/ LADIES & GENTLEMEN’S / HAT WAREHOUSE / AND SPLIT STRAW, LEGHORN, CHIP- /HAT & BONNET / MANUFACTORY, / No. 70 South Second St. / PHILADA." Lawrence Brown operated his hat manufactory at this location from 1808, taking a partner, Stephen Brown (his son?), in 1813. Hat measures approximately 5 inches in height, with an oval crown approx. 5.5 x 6 in., and a brim of 1.5 inches. The crown remains partly attached to the brim, as is the 3-in. wide cotton liner, but the 2-piece brim has separated due to fragmentation of the sewing thread. Leather is misshapen in the crown, with some cracking to the finish. In need of full conservation. An extremely rare boy’s leather hat from the 1st decade of the 19th century, currently in relic condition.
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