Many of the hats on the dolls in the Welsh Dolls project are very similar in shape, materials and details to adult Welsh hats. It seems likely that many of them were made professionally. D8 and D14 have maker’s labels inside them.
All the dolls are female, except D2. All the hats in the project are illustrated and briefly described below. Not all the dolls had hats.
Links to the full description of each doll may be seen via the hyperlink to the doll project number (e.g. D1)
Date: Most of the dolls are thought to be 19th century, although it is possible that some of the hats are not contemporary with the doll body or costume. Adult hats are very difficualt to date, but it is likely that most were made between 1840 and 1880.
Note: The angle at which many of these photographs were taken makes the hats look taller and the sides look more vertical than they actually are.
Advert for Welsh costume dolls’ hats.
TO VISITORS & OTHERS.
HATS and CAPS of all descriptions may be had at W. P. JONES’S, Hatter.
A great quantity of DOLLS, neatly dressed in the Welsh Costume, may be had at W. P. Jones’s, Hatter. Grosses of DOLLS’ HATS, of different sizes, made without a single stitch, and all of new French silk, by W. P. Jones, Hatter, Prices, from 4d. to 1s. each. GENTLEMEN’S HATS neatly and well repaired, on the shortest notice, by W. P. Jones, Hatter. Please to observe. W. P. Jones, Hatter, Great Dark-gate street, Aberystwyth, within 4 doors of the Clock turret, on the right hand side to the Church entrance gate. W. P. J. is the only Hatter in the place.
Aberystwyth Observer, 22.6.1868
A study of trade directories shows that W.P.J. Jones and his family might have been the only hatter in Aberystwyth in that year.
Tall hat with brim and tapered crown covered in black silk plush.
Black ribbon around the crown with a bow on one side. 7.5 cms high.
Tall hat with slightly tapered crown of woven wool, ribbon hatband with buckle. Binding to edge of brim. 7 cms high
Tall hat with slightly tapered crown, covered in black silk plush. Black ribbon around the crown with bow, gathered inner hatband. 10.8 high.
Hat made of two pieces of felt- brim and crown cut from circle of cloth gathered into hole of brim. Hand stitched. Black ribbon tied in a bow around crown.
Tall hat with tapered crown made of card with black plush covering, ribbon around the crown with bow, 8 cms high.
Hat with high tapered crown, covered in black plush covering, narrow ribbon tied and stitched around the crown, 3 cms high.
Tall hat with slightly tapered crown, black plush covering, 6 cms high.
Tall tapered hat with black plush covering; black beading around the brim. 9 cms high. Contains label with coat of arms.
Tall hat with tapered crown and brim covered in black silk plush; black ribbon around the crown, no stitching; 5 cms high
Black tall hat with slightly tapered crown, wide brim, covered in black plush, underside of brim covered in black wool crêpe, 8 cms high.
Tall hat with tapered crown covered in black plush; ribbon around crown; elastic chin strap, 8 cms high.
Slightly tapered hat with black silk plush covering, ribbon around crown with bow, brim finished in narrow tape, woven lining. 9 cms high.
Tall hat, not tapered, flat crown, broad brim, of black silk plush with ribbon around crown. 4.8 cms high
Tapered hat, with broad brim, flat crown, hatband, narrow braid trim to brim edge. Interior label reads ‘French & English toy repository, J Ewins, Hair cutter, dresser & perfumier, High Street, Cardiff’. Lined. 9.8 cms high.
Tall hat with tapered crown, constructed from card, which is visible on the inside. Crown and outer brim are covered in one fabric (black plush) and the underside of the brim is covered in a second fabric made in three pieces. Ribbon around crown tied in a bow. 5 cms high.
Welsh hat, tapered style, with a ribbon and bead decoration around the crown. The inside is unlined apart from the brim. 7 cms high.
Tapered hat with flat crown, broad brim covered in silk plush; beaded hatband, 5.7 cms high
Tapered hat with flat crown, broad brim, hatband with bow, & chin strap which is not contemporary. Lined with brown paper. The underside of the brim has been covered with four pieces of silk plush scraps and the overall finish is not top quality. 6 cms high
Tapered hat with wide brim and flat crown, hatband with beaded decoration. Brim finished with narrow braid. The hat is stitched to the cap and head of the doll. 8 cms high.
A tapered hat with flat crown and broad brim covered with fulled wool, with hatband, and brim finished with narrow tape. 6 cms high
Tapered hat with flat crown & broad brim of painted/lacquered card in a single layer. 6 cms high
Slightly tapered hat with flat crown, broad brim, hatband with bow. 4 cms high
Hat, not tapered, with flat crown, broad brim covered in plush, hatband and narrow silk ties. 4.5 cms high
Tapered hat with flat crown, wide brim covered in plush, hat band; adhered to head of doll. 7.5 cms high
Tall tapered hat covered in plush. The underside of the brim and top has been painted black. 4cms high.
Tall hat made of felt. The hat is missing two sections of the brim and the brim is loosely attached to the crown with some repair stitches. 4 cms high
Tall hat with tapered crown covered in plush, 6.2 cms high
Tall hat with tapered crown covered in plush, 8.5 cms high
Tall hat with high tapered crown covered in plush. Wide brim bound with tape and lined with same plush fabric pleated into the crown. Diagonal seam to silk plush covering from top of crown to brim, ribbed silk hat band, decorative ruched silk band and decorative black cord band with bow. Crown lined with black cotton sateen. 11 cms high
Welsh Costume / Gwisg Gymreig 