Authentic Hollywood History
Direct from the legendary Paramount Studios archives, this stunning 1940s Bumper-style Bonnet is a true piece of Golden Age cinema history. Marked "Made in France," this piece represents the high-end millinery imported by major studios to outfit their leading ladies during the height of the Technicolor era.
Design & Details
• Era: Circa late 1930s to mid-1940s.
• Style: Classic Bumper/Halo Bonnet designed to sit back on the head, showcasing the era’s popular victory rolls or pin curls.
• Material: Premium brushed felt (peachbloom) in a sophisticated camel tan. It features a luxuriously soft, velvet-like texture.
• Accents: Contrasting vibrant burnt orange (rust) grosgrain ribbon trim and long chin-tie "barbes" that frame the face beautifully.
• Origin: High-quality French construction, stamped "Made in France" on the interior grosgrain sweatband.
Condition Report
This hat is in remarkable vintage condition considering its age and history in a studio wardrobe department. The felt is structurally sound with a beautiful nap.
Measurements:
• One size fits most (designed to sit atop the head).
CHECK OUT MY OTHER PARAMOUNT HAT LISTINGS! Happy to combine shipping.
Background on Collection
About 17 years ago Paramount Studios decided to liquidate a great deal of their wardrobe department. Pieces that had been in their collection since their inception in 1912 were being sold off. We acquired as much as we could. Some had actresses names sewn in them, others we were able to identify from watching Paramount films, but they were all unique and special because of their heritage. You can see pics of some of the items we discovered below. We sold a few (the Vera-Ellen hat from the movie White Christmas now sits in the Rosemary Clooney museum in Augusta, Kentucky) but most we have kept in climate-controlled storage. It has come time to part with some of them so we have decided to put some of the vintage hats up for sale on eBay. These hats are amazing, most in very good condition and date from the 1910s to the 1950s (possibly older). These hats have all the style and high fashion you would expect from vintage Hollywood. They aren't just film noir style hats, they were probably actually used in a film noir movie. Some are famous Hollywood designer created hats with their labels, others could have been made in-house by Paramount designers. Some hats we have been able to identify who wore them, but most we were not. Keep in mind, studios only supplied wardrobe to principle players, others had to bring their own clothes. We do also know that they would often re-use wardrobe in multiple films as we have found pieces worn by different actresses in different movies. CHECK OUT MY OTHER LISTINGS.
About the Paramount stamp/markings
Paramount Pictures Hollywood, U.S.A. - gold/blue stamp, one of the originals found on older items
Property of Paramount Pictures Corp. Ladies Wardrobe - gold/blue stamp, one of the originals found on older items
Sewn Paramount label - was used more often in wardrobe than hats
PARAMOUNT - a stamp that seems to appear more in the 50s and on, an older item could still have this stamp if it was re-stamped.
PAR - handwritten in black ink
BB - handwritten in black ink (not sure of significance)