Object Record
Images
Metadata
Catalog Number |
2770-96-T1 |
Object Name |
Hat |
Collection |
HISTORY |
Date |
1869 |
Description |
Girl's hat of white woven horsehair with blue flowers. History of garment: Worn by Nia Sawyer (Chase) at the age of 3. Nia Sawyer was born on July 18, 1865 in Fond du Lac, WI. She was the daughter of Edgar P. and Mary Jewell Sawyer. She attended Oshkosh schools and the Oshkosh Normal School. She married Charles Curry Chase June 2, 1886. She was active in her father's companies; the Sawyer Company, Wisconsin Delaware Company and Sawyer Cattle Company in Texas. Although Nia lived most of her life in Oshkosh, during the last 11 years of her life she also kept a winter home in Palm Beach, Florida. Summers would be spent in "Waldwic", the family's summer home on Lake Butte de Morts. Nia died on July 30, 1935 at "Waldwic" and is buried at Riverside Cemetery. Horsehair was commonly used in the 19th century as upholstery stuffing (such as for fabric sofas) and as covering fabric for furniture. It was almost always the fiber used to make shaving brushes. It was also common in hats and women's undergarments. Horsehair is the long, coarse hair growing on the manes and tails of horses. It is used for various purposes, including upholstery, brushes, the bows of musical instruments, a hard-wearing fabric called haircloth, and for horsehair plaster, a wallcovering material formerly used in the construction industry and now found only in older buildings. Horsehair can be very stiff or very fine and flexible; mane hair is generally softer and shorter than tail hair. The texture of horsehair can be influenced by the breed and management of the horse, including natural conditions such as diet or climate. Processing may also affect quality and feel. Horsehair is a protein fiber that absorbs water slowly, but can be dyed or colored effectively using traditional dyes suitable for protein fibers. It can be felted, but not easily. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horsehair). Original Catalog Card ; "Hat - Childs - white straw blue flowers & lace; worn by Nia Sawyer age 3". |
People |
Chase, Maria Malvina "Nia" Sawyer |
Search Terms |
Sawyer politics child |
Subjects |
Sawyer home Children Fashion |