A Collector of Saintes: The Headwear…

The Dupuy Mestreau Museum in the city of Saintes, France is advertised as a ‘cabinet of curiosities’ with about 3,000 artifacts showcasing the cultural history of Saintes. This is the third in my series highlighting some of my favorite objects here.

There was a remarkable display of women’s headwear dating to the 18th-19th centuries. These ‘ballons’ consisted of a ‘coiffe grisette’ of quilted chintz, with a separate lace overlay that was secured to the coiffe with pins. They dated to 1830-70 and were worn for weddings and baptisms. Their shape and construction was region-specific.

There were more sedate lace bonnets as well. I thought the pleating was extraordinary.

Here’s a map I found online, showing the different styles and which regions they come from:

One headdress that I thought was made from wood was a ‘ballet’ made from thin sheets of cardboard or thick paper that were pleated around a brass form. Since they were modeled on ‘aged’ head forms, I took that to mean that they were typically worn by more matronly women. They would also have been warmer and not as subject to the whims of rain and wind. Again, the pleating on this piece was remarkable.

There were a few men’s hat scattered throughout this floor, most in poor condition and set on top of armoires and bookcases so it was difficult to see them in any detail.

And then there was this one, of such a size that I wondered if it was worn by the same man who owned the ginormous boot I had posed next to in my “Shoes” post.