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Port & River — 1910-1935

Hat, porter's hat

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A porter working in London's wholesale fish market in Billingsgate would have worn this hat, also known as a Bobbin. Made from wood and tarred leather such hats were worn by fishporters from the 1880’s. The flat, hardened top was designed to support large rectangular boxes of fish. The upturned brim protected the porter’s head against fish juice draining from the boxes of fish which would be carried on top of the hat. Some hats featured a small drain hole at the rear to allow this collected juice to drain down the back of the carrier.

Unlike the majority of Billingsgate porter's hats this one has not been laquered or covered in pitch. The hats were made using the 'cuir bouilli' technique. The leather was immersed in water which was heated until the leather began to shrink. It was then removed and put on a wooden former. The leather was stitched together to make the hat while still wet, and then held in place until dry.

Category:
Port & River
Object ID:
MID2001.15
Object name:
hat, porter's hat
Object type:

hat, porter's hat

Artist/Maker:
—
Related people:

Related events:

Related places:

Production date:
1910-1935
Material:

leather

Measurements/duration:
H 150 mm, D 330 mm, L 275 mm
Part of:
—
On display:
London Museum Docklands: First Port of Empire Gallery
Record quality:
100%
Part of this object:
—
Owner Status & Credit:

Permanent collection

Copyright holder:

digital image © London Museum

Image credit:
—
Creative commons usage:
—
License this image:

To license this image for commercial use, please contact the London Museum Picture Library.

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Port & River 20th century London Fashion & Style City of London
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