Hatpins have been used as hat fasteners since the middle ages. But they are mostly recognized as Victorian embellishments. By the mid 1800s women were giving up the bonnet ribbons to keep their hats on their heads on windy days and opting instead for hatpins to do the job.
Fashionable women of the Edwardian period wore very large hats, and to keep them on, very long hatpins were needed. With the suffragette movement in the early 1900s, came the fear of radical women bearing 12" long hatpins and a law was passed indicating that hatpins could only be 9" long. It was believed women were using them as weapons. With the shorter hatpin law, smaller hats also became necessary. The flappers of the 1920s wore cloches very close to the head and they seldom required hatpins.
Where to Find Antique Hatpins
The best place to find antique hatpins is online, mostly due to the sheer numbers of old hatpins listed, as well as the great selection. Collectors should use due diligence when purchasing online. Be aware of the tricks in the language. For example, the hatpin may be written as Victorian when it is simply Victorian style. There are lots of copies being made.
Please note, when searching online that hatpin can be spelled as one word or two, so if searching on eBay, if may be worth trying both spellings.
Antique malls are usually worth foraging for antique hatpins and the collector has the advantage of touching the hatpin and inspecting it for flaws and authenticity.
Recognizing the Fake Victorian Hatpin
A hatpin is a hatpin, but some sellers may sell the hatpin as Victorian or antique, when it isn't. Hatpins with rows of beads on their ends are new. A die-hard collector knows when the hatpin is a marriage between a vintage brooch and vintage hatpin stem. Both pieces may be vintage, but they aren't necessarily original vintage hatpins. Glued settings are a sure sign of a restored or fake Victorian hatpin.
Antique Hatpins Price Guide
The antique hat pins that fetch the highest prices include those with fine and unusual detail, figural toppers, amethyst of other gems set in gold, sterling silver art nouveau pieces by Charles Horner, unusual art deco designs, hand painted porcelain toppers, and those with large toppers of colorful rhinestones. These are all generally priced between $50 and $1500.
Display Vintage and Antique Hatpins
The traditional antique hatpin holder is just as beautiful as the hatpins. The holder is the best way to display vintage and antique hatpins because it keeps them standing upright and the toppers are easily visible. The most sought after holders are the porcelain hand painted Nippon hatpin holders, but there are numerous different types available. Again, research online to ensure authenticity. Both the hatpin and the hatpin holder is being reproduced today in the style of the originals. New collectors need to be aware of what to look for.
References
Lorraine Syratt - Lorraine Syratt is a freelance writer, gardener and part-time antique dealer. Please see her full profile for more information.
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