Beaver hat facts for kids
A beaver hat is a special type of hat made from the soft fur of a beaver. These hats were very popular in Europe for about 300 years, from 1550 to 1850. People loved them because the beaver fur felt was soft but also strong. This made it easy for hat makers to shape them into many different styles, including the famous top hat. Sometimes, smaller beaver hats were called beaverkins.
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How Beaver Hats Were Made
Making a beaver hat was a detailed process. First, people used beaver furs, especially those from winter coats worn by Native Americans. These furs were good because wearing them helped prepare the skins, making it easier to remove the coarser hairs.
To create the felt, the soft underhairs were carefully shaved from the beaver pelt. These hairs were then mixed together using a special vibrating tool called a hatter's bow. This process helped the hairs mat together. The matted fur fabric was then pounded and boiled many times. This made the felt shrink and become very thick and strong.
After the felt was ready, it was placed over a hat-shaped block. The hat maker would then press and steam the felt to give it the right shape. Finally, the outside surface of the hat was brushed until it had a shiny look.
Why Were Beaver Hats So Popular?
Beaver hats were a big deal in fashion for a long time. We know they were around even in the late 1300s! For example, in Canterbury Tales by Chaucer, written in the late 14th century, a character is described wearing a "Flandrish [Flemish] beaver hat."
The huge demand for beaver fur led to a big problem. Both the Eurasian beaver and the North American beaver almost disappeared because so many were hunted for their fur. It seems that a sudden change in fashion saved these animals from becoming extinct.
Different Styles of Beaver Hats
Beaver hats came in many different styles. The style of hat someone wore could even show their social status or what job they had.
Some popular styles for everyday wear included:
- the Wellington (popular from 1820 to 1840)
- the Paris beau (around 1815)
- the D'Orsay (around 1820)
- the Regent (around 1825)
- the clerical (worn in the 18th century, often by religious leaders)
Beaver hats were also important for military uniforms. Some military styles included:
- the continental cocked hat (used around 1776)
- the Navy cocked hat (popular in the 19th century)
- the Army shako (a tall, stiff military hat, used around 1837)
The End of an Era
The popularity of the beaver hat started to fade in the early to mid-19th century. This was because new styles, like silk hats, became much more fashionable across Europe. Silk hats were easier to make and less expensive, leading to the decline of the beaver hat.
Images for kids
- Examples
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A silk reproduction felt hat, Lower Fort Garry NHS.
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Shapes and styles of beaver hat 1776–1825
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19th century Masonic Knights Templar Beaver Fur hat
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English military engineer John By (1779-1836)
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Edward Arthur Walton – The Beaver Hat
See also
In Spanish: Sombrero de castor para niños
