| This is another example of a "silk" top hat dating from the 1870s to the early 1900s. The band of leather that normally would be sewn into the inside rim of the hat is missing on this example. Since it was leather and subject to being exposed to the wearer's sweted forehead, the band would often rot and disintegrate. The band that had originally been attached to the inside of the rim of this hat might have been a bit deteriorated and removed intentionally. The rigidity of the top hat, though, would have made this band-less hat uncomfortable to wear; the purpose of the band was to soften the inside of the rim. |
