BONNET

Description: BLACK SILK BONNET. 'VICTORIAN' STYLE. HAS NO REAL BRIM; FITS CLOSELY TO HEAD; NO LONGER THAN NAPE OF NECK. EDGE OF BONNET THAT FRAMES THE FACE HAS MATERIAL GATHERED INTO A RUFFLE. TOP OF BONNET ALSO HAS GATHERED MATERIAL, BUT IN LARGER SECTIONS. THERE ARE TWO BLACK OSTRICH FEATHERS ON TOP OF BONNET FROM UNDERNEATH RUFFLES ON TOP, BONNET IS GATHERED INTO VERTICAL PLEATS THAT GO TO BOTTOM EDGE. AT BACK, MATERIAL IS SLIGHTLY MORE GATHERED NEAR BOTTOM EDGE. ON FRONT THERE IS A LONG BLACK STRIP OF MATERIAL (GROSGRAIN RIBBON) ATTACHED TO EACH SIDE (FOR TYING BONNET). BONNET HAS A LINING OF A LIGHTER BLACK MATERIAL. LINING HAS SMALL HOLES THROUGHOUT. OUTER MATERIAL OF BONNET IS BADLY FRAYED THROUGHOUT. BONNET IS HANDSTITICHED.

History: DONOR IS A HIGH SCHOOL PHYS. ED. TEACHER. SHE DID DRAMA IN SCHOOLS AND LOCAL THEATRE, AND ENTIRE COLLECTION WAS GIVEN TO HER BY LOCAL PEOPLE. FOR MORE INFORMATION ON DONOR GAIL HOLLAND’S ACQUISITION, STEWARDSHIP AND GENERAL USE OF HER 1999-DONATED COLLECTION PLEASE REFER TO RECORD P19990053001. “LADIES BONNET WORN BY A CHORUS MEMBER IN LETHBRIDGE MUSICAL THEATRE’S PRODUCTION OF “MYSTERY OF EDWIN DROOD” IN 1991. THE PRODUCTION’S SETTING WAS VICTORIAN LONDON AND THE BONNET SERVED AS A REFERENCE FOR DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF OTHER SIMILAR HEADWEAR WORN IN THAT PRODUCTION.”