History of Hatpins

Hatpins reached a peak of popularity between themanufacturers included Unger Brothers, Lincoln, William
1890s and 1920s, as music hall actresses like LillianKerr, Alvin Manufacturing, R. Blackington and Company,
Russell and Lillian Langtry fueled the popularity of largeDay and Clarke, and The Sterling Company. Notable
elaborate hats without bonnet strings. Having originatedhatpin designers included Charles Horner, Louis Tiffany,
in the 1850s to secure straw hats, hatpins becameWilliam Codman, James T. Wooley, Barton Jenks, and
longer and more ornate over time (1910 was the heightGeorge Gebelein. Hatpins spanned many styles
of hatpin length, with the stems alone reaching 10 to 12including Baroque, Etruscan Revival, Greek Revival,
inches). The mass produced white or black bead on aEgyptian Revival, Oriental influence, Arts and Crafts,
pin was the basic 'working girl' hatpin, but many highArt Nouveau and even Art Deco, before waning
end hatpins were made by jewelers of brass, copper,around WW1 when metals became scarce and hats
sterling silver, gold, or gold or silver wash. Othergot smaller. Collectors also seek specialized hatpins,
materials included Carnival glass, rhinestones, handincluding hallmarked hatpins, hatpins that serve vanities,
blown molded glass, micro mosaic, or hand painted oropera hatpins, and compact hatpins that have a mirror
transferred porcelain like the Japanese Satsuma.and a powder puff. Amethyst and pearls are popular,
There were also hatpins made with ivory, emeralds,as well as Plique-a-Jour enamel. Hatpin holders are
stone, amber, tortoise shell, jet, celluloid and otheralso sought after.
plastics, mother of pearl, and coral. Key hatpin