How to Display Vintage Hats
Have you ever wondered about the phrase "mad as a hatter"? Toxic mercury was used in the felt-making process of creating hats and this chemical often drove milliners crazy. Today the art of the hat is still very much appreciated by the fashion conscious and hat collectors alike. Vintage hats are popular collectibles. Because hats come in so many styles and from so many different time periods, it's possible to possess an eclectic collection or concentrate on one type or era. Displaying vintage hats can be accomplished with creative flair to maximize your collection's full potential.
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Things You'll Need
- Tissue paper
- Shaker pegs
- Hall tree
- Wig or hat stands
- Decorative wall hooks
- Rustic wood
- Reclaimed rustic iron nails
- Hammer
- Curio cabinet
Instructions
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1
Stuff tissue paper into soft-frame or fabric hats to create a support structure and protect against crumpling. Don't stuff the hat so much that it looks awkward and stiff, but just enough so the sides are supported and the hat has a natural appearance.
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2
Hang vintage hats on shaker pegs along walls. Place the shaker pegs about six feet from the baseboards for the best eye view. Secure your shaker pegs into the studs in the wall or use wall anchors in the drywall.
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3
Hang vintage hats on antique or vintage hall trees or hat/umbrella stands.
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Place hats on antique or reproduction wig or hat stands on dressers, tables, end tables, vanities or wardrobes. Iron hat stands often have velvet platforms on the top of the stand so you can secure the hat to the stand with a hatpin.
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Place decorative wall hooks in narrow spaces between windows and doors to use otherwise wasted space as a showcase for your vintage hats. Screw the decorative hook directly into a stud for the best support.
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Hang rustic bonnets or straw hats on reclaimed nails driven with a hammer into reclaimed wood boards. Reclaimed nails and wood can be purchased at antique stores and flea markets. Hang on the wall or over doors.
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Display vintage hats in glass curio cabinets, arranging the larger hats toward the back of the shelves and the smaller hats in the front.
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Tips & Warnings
Use a level to ensure your shaker pegs are hung straight. A level can be purchased at discount or home repair stores. Align the level bottom edge with the top edge of the shaker peg base and look for the red bead or bubble to center between two indicator marks letting you know that the shaker peg base is straight.
Another easy display method is to place your hats on a plant stand or a spiral plant stand.
