Category: Male clothing > medieval headwear

Medieval felt hat Visconti

Medieval felt hat Visconti

Century: XIV, XV

CODE	Material	Standard ? × SPES products - technology & methods of manufacturing Machine-made standard - products with visible signs of using modern methods and tools in their production; e.g. visible outside and inside seams in clothing made with the use of a machine. Mixed standard - products with visible signs of using both modern and traditional methods and tools in their production; e.g. main, inside seams in clothing are made with the use of a machine while outside stitches and details are sewn by hand. Hand-made standard - goods with visible signs of using only traditional methods and tools in their production; e.g. all seams in clothing are sewn by hand. *NOTE. We always use high quality materials and fabrics while making our products - the above standards of their production are not related to the materials used.	Price
GFR0271	Felt	Hand-made	45.00 EUR

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Medieval hat Visconti is an interesting proposition for reenactors who want to distinguish themselves from a crowd. It is a medieval headwear for those who care about historical accuracy as much as the looks and convenience.

This hat is completely handmade in full wet method and strengthened by gellatin. Made of natural sheep wool.

It is characterized by tall, conical shape. Proper fitting to the head makes it stable, even in windy weather conditions. It is this type of felt hat which perfectly matches clothing of properly chosen colors. It does not only make its wearer look taller but also slenders the face and lengthens the whole body.

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Height of the Visconti hat is around 26 cm. As it is completely handmade, it may be slightly different in each item.

Range of colors in this medieval hat is very wide. You can find them here.
After choosing a color, please give us a proper code in the comment section.

We can prepare 2 colors of felt for this headwear. This way (examples - pictures 3 and 4), curled edge is in different color than outer layer. This option is free of charge – just let us know in the comment section.


NOTE - colors on pictures may be slightly different than those on final product.

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From where the Visconti name come from?

The figure of Bernabò Visconti, visible on a medieval fresco from 1365-68, The Way to Salvation, located in the Church of Santa Maria Novella in Florence. The alleged author of the painting is Andrei Di Bonaiuto.

This fresco depicts the glorification of the Dominican Order. Among the people presented in the painting is Visconti, who wore a conical cap resembling our one. Therefore, our felt hat is named after this 14th century magnate.

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Felting & fulling - how to make a felt hat?

Fulling is a process of joining natural animal (wool of sheep, animal hair) or plant fibers. This method can give dozens of adornments, accessories, or parts of clothing, characteristic for both former and modern fashion.
While making the felt, joined fibers are strengthened by hot water or chemicals, by pressing or rubbing. One can do it manually or with the use of a machine. The process is called fulling or felting.

Among others, there are two methods of felting used in making felt hats:
- full wet method – with the use of water and joining material, like soap
- dry method – with dedicated needle or tracer (cutting wheel), layers of fibers are joined and pressed
In past, a person making felt products was called a fuller.

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What is felt used in medieval hats?

Woolen felt is one of the oldest human made textile materials. First marks of felt are dated on 6500 BC and come from area of modern Turkey, where Neolithic wall painting were found. A collection of felt products found in Altai are dated 7th-6th century BC.

Felt was used for centuries in making headwear like caps, hats or berets, but also in making footwear. It is an all-purpose material, used not only in clothing. It is used in insulating and soundproofing materials, and as a veneer for keys in keyboards and pianos.

There are legends on the creation of felt fibre. One of them says that it reaches the time of Noah’s Ark where sheep lost their wool on wet floor. It was trampled and later found by surprised Noah in a form of a carpet!

Another story says about Mondolian horse riders who put sheep fur under their saddles. It was rubbed during a journey and later found in a hardened form.

The most interesting story is connected with the patron of fullers – St. Clement. A pope during his pilgrimage in the 1st century scraped his legs. To relieve his feet, he put wool pieces into his sandals. Rubbing and sweat formed it into felt.