During the Napoleonic Wars period (1803-1815), European and American ladies used a variety of elaborate headdresses, but among the most interesting accessories were the chip bonnets – hats made from wood! Sometimes, the chip framework was covered with silk or left as it was. 19Th-century hat-makers truly knew how to use natural materials in their work – headpieces artfully created from wood chips were as common as straw and canvas hats.
In the early 19th century, a hat for a lady was a must-have. Hundreds of different designs replaced each other in fashion trends, dozens of natural and artificial materials were used to make these headdresses. Such items as straw hats, knitted and woven hats, hats sewn from silk and other fabrics on hard frameworks, lace caps, etc were extremely widespread and well-known. But what many people don’t know is that ladies at the beginning of the 1800s often favored chip bonnets.
What is a chip bonnet? It is a bonnet made from thin strips of shaved wood. The hat-makers wove such hats from these wood shavings, like from straw. The material was called “chip straw” or “chip braid” and it was a rather handy material, cheap, durable, and easy to work with. The craftsmen could create bonnets of any size, shape, and style from it. Also, chip straw is solid and stiff, so it made a great and cheap frame for a hat, unlike costly metal wire.
Vintage chip straw hat, 1810-1814. From The Met Museum
The variety of chip bonnets was huge. There existed bleached and colored hats, bonnets made solely from wood chips and covered with silk, lace, velvet, or another fabric. Some were very simple and plain, others were richly decorated and looked fancy.
Chip bonnets were popular among middle-class and high-class ladies during the 19th century. And they are a lovely part of this period’s fashion.
