VTG ANTIQUE, STEAMPUNK LADIES TOP HAT, CANDY CONTAINER W VELVET FLOWERS, NETTING For Sale

I had a hard time dating this piece. I finally realized that the hat is much older than the box, which I believe to be a replacement. The hat is wonderful! It\'s a ladies, Victorian top hat, and just screams \"steampunk\"! It would definitely work for a LARGE boudoir or other doll. The box portion isn\'t die cut - it was cut out. It fits beautifully, so was really well done. The hat is a type of felt, although I don\'t know the name for this particular type of felt. Felt is an unwoven fabric, made from compressed fibers. This type of felt was used for all kinds of doll hats in the 1940\'s and 1950\'s, and with handling, will lose it\'s shape. This one is slightly worn around the brim, although the shape is quite good. I have also seen Halloween masks made from this type of felt - it holds color quite well. It features some wonderful hat netting - there is a piece of off-white net attached to the side of the hat, with some charming vintage, black velvet flowers. It also has some additional vintage hat netting in black, with tiny straw flowers in an off white. The black netting is quite worn and torn, but looks awesome wrapped around the brim. The hat is pretty easy to date to the 1950\'s, based on the hat fabric, and the flowers and net. The box portion gave me a problem, until I realized it was a replacement! The hat box isn\'t die cut, as it would have been if original - I is cut out. When I examined the edges closely, I could see where it was cut out, and the slightly uneven black that was used to cover it. I think! As with items like this, I am giving you my best guess, based on my knowledge of being an antiques dealer since 1985. Anyway, it is a charming piece that displays really well.
The hat size is fairly large. The overall size from edge to edge is 7 1/4\" long by 6 3/4\" wide by 3\" tall.
The interior of the hat is 5 1/4\" long and 5 1/2\" wide, and 3\" tall.
It would work for a really large doll, small person, or to display. The style is Victorian Steampunk!