Hatpins and Hatpin Holders

About Antique Hatpins

Hatpins reached a peak of popularity between the 1890s and 1920s, as music hall actresses like Lillian Russell and Lillian Langtry fueled the popularity of large elaborate hats without bonnet strings. Having originated in the 1850s to secure straw hats, hatpins became longer and more ornate over time (1910 was the height of hatpin length, with the stems alone reaching 10 to 12 inches).

The mass produced white or black bead on a pin was the basic 'working girl' hatpin, but many high end hatpins were made by jewelers of brass, copper, sterling silver, gold, or gold or silver wash. Other materials included Carnival glass, rhinestones, hand blown molded glass, micro mosaic, or hand painted or transferred porcelain like the Japanese Satsuma. There were also hatpins made with ivory, emeralds, stone, amber, tortoise shell, jet, celluloid and other plastics, mother of pearl, and coral...

Key hatpin manufacturers included Unger Brothers, Lincoln, William Kerr, Alvin Manufacturing, R. Blackington and Company, Day and Clarke, and The Sterling Company. Notable hatpin designers included Charles Horner, Louis Tiffany, William Codman, James T. Wooley, Barton Jenks, and George Gebelein.

Hatpins spanned many styles including Baroque, Etruscan Revival, Greek Revival, Egyptian Revival, Oriental influence, Arts and Crafts, Art Nouveau and even Art Deco, before waning around WW1 when metals became scarce and hats got smaller.

Collectors also seek specialized hatpins, including hallmarked hatpins, hatpins that serve vanities, opera hatpins, and compact hatpins that have a mirror and a powder puff. Amethyst and pearls are popular, as well as Plique-a-Jour enamel. Hatpin holders are also sought after.

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Interviews & Articles

An Interview With Antique Hatpin Collector Jodi Lenocker

Originally my husband and I collected cylinder phonographs, but after you acquire a few of them and their sta… [more]

An Interview With Victorian Furniture Collector John Werry

How did I get started collecting Victorian Furniture? Antiques is in my genes, my mother's family were longti… [more]

An Interview With Fine Jewelry and Costume Jewelry Collector Christie Romero

I started out with general antiques and collectibles... I was a dealer for a while and bought and sold all ki… [more]

An Interview With Modernist Studio Jewelry Collector Marbeth Schon

My background is in fine art. My B.A. was in Art Education, so I started out as an art teacher. Later, I bega… [more]

An Interview With Victorian Trade Card Collector Ben Crane

How did I start collecting Victorian trade cards? In the late 60s I was a bottle collector, early American bo… [more]

An Interview With Arts and Crafts Silver and Jewelry Collector Paul Somerson

How did I get started collecting Arts and Crafts silver? My wife and I had been collecting Arts and Crafts it… [more]

An Interview With Victorian Greeting Card Collector Malcolm Warrington

Malcolm Warrington is based 12 miles to the west of Central London. He is a council member of the UK Ephemera… [more]

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Best of the Web (“Hall of Fame”)

American Hatpin Society

American Hatpin Society

Who knew there was so much to hatpin collecting? This site is all about great hatpin images - from recent hatpin co… [read review or visit site]

All About Jewels Dictionary

All About Jewels Dictionary

This incredible reference dictionary on jewelry, from Enchantedlearning.com, is both beautiful and comprehensive. S… [read review or visit site]

Rare Victorian

Rare Victorian

John Werry's in-depth blog on rare Victorian Furniture, with detailed, informative and often humorous posts on doze… [read review or visit site]

The Scrap Album

The Scrap Album

Attention paper collectors: don't miss Malcolm Warrington's exquisitely designed tribute to Victorian scraps (stamp… [read review or visit site]

Antique Jewelry University

Antique Jewelry University

Although not actually a university, this website has a lot of great educational information about antique, vintage,… [read review or visit site]

Trade Card Place

Trade Card Place

Ben Crane's excellent reference site on Victorian trade cards. Includes a scrapbook containing hundreds of beautifu… [read review or visit site]

Morning Glory Antiques and Jewelry

Morning Glory Antiques and Jewelry

Jewelry collectors, feast your eyes on this internet gem! It's a goldmine of jewelry information featuring all styl… [read review or visit site]

Chicago Silver

Chicago Silver

Paul Somerson's incredible reference on handwrought metalwork from the American Arts and Crafts movement of the ear… [read review or visit site]

Stevengraphs Bookmarks and Postcards

Stevengraphs Bookmarks and Postcards

Malcolm Roebuck's tribute to the ornate silk picture bookmarks and postcards ('Stevengraphs') produced by Thomas St… [read review or visit site]

Cathy Gordon's Jewelry Gallery

Cathy Gordon's Jewelry Gallery

With its vast galleries featuring clear images of jewelry and style, this site really covers it all! Divided up by … [read review or visit site]


Got a site to suggest? Let us know.




Clubs & Associations: Fine Jewelry


Other Great Reference Sites: Fine Jewelry

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Top eBay Auctions  Help | Get weekly Hatpins and Hatpin Holders email

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Rare Vintage Hatpin Top W/compact,rhinestones,est.find$760.00 Ends in 1 hour 26 bids 32 watchers
Best 1911 Charles Horner Silver Art Nouveau Hatpin Mint$175.35 Ends in 17 hours 9 bids 40 watchers
Very Rare Royal Doulton Series Ware Hatpin Holder-mint$144.60 Ends Sunday 6 bids 39 watchers
Gemma Taccogna Papier Mache Hatpin Holder Cushion Mexic$89.00 Ends in 17 hours 2 bids 6 watchers
Vintage Cartier Sterling Silver Hair Hat Pins Authentic$84.00 Ends Saturday 12 bids 43 watchers
Fantasy Collection Drag Queen Gown Hat/pin/glitter $79.99 Ends Sunday 1 bid 6 watchers
Northwood Amethyst Grape & Cable Hatpin $76.00 Ends Sunday 9 bids 20 watchers
Antique Collection Of Victorian Hat Pin Holders$75.00 Ends in 14 hours 1 bid 3 watchers
13 Vintage Victorian Hat Pins-glass, Brass & Metal$55.00 Ends Sunday 6 bids 9 watchers
Antique Vintage Long Victorian Large Rhinestone Hatpin$51.00 Ends in 1 hour 11 bids 19 watchers
Custard Glass Grape & Cable Hat Pin Holder $49.99 Ends Sunday 1 bid 6 watchers
Vintage Schafer & Vater Cameo Hatpin Holder German Nr$48.67 Ends Sunday 10 bids 23 watchers
Charles Horner Silver Hatpin Chester 1910$48.20 Ends Sunday 2 bids 10 watchers
Charles Horner Hatpin Silver & Glass Chester 1910$48.20 Ends Sunday 2 bids 16 watchers
Pair Charles Horner Silver Hatpins (matched) 1915$46.54 Ends Sunday 1 bid 9 watchers
Unusual Lrg 1911 Advertising Hatpin/"savage"minneapolis$46.00 Ends Sunday 5 bids 11 watchers
Fenton Blue Orange Tree Hat Pin Holder + Pin$46.00 Ends Wednesday 4 bids 9 watchers
Quantity 5 9ct & 18ct Gold Antique Hat Pins Stick Pins$36.57 Ends Sunday 7 bids 28 watchers
Antique Hatpin-stickpin Holder On Tray C.1900-1915 Rare$35.95 Ends Sunday 2 bids 11 watchers
Ooak 1/12th Dollhouse Hatpin Cushion By Zoe Manley$35.00 Ends Sunday 2 bids 6 watchers
Vintage Hatpin Hat Pin Huge Cobalt & Clear Rhinestones$34.75 Ends Wednesday 4 bids 15 watchers
Antique Nippon Hatpin Holder With 3 Hatpins$34.00 Ends Sunday 1 bid 3 watchers
Antique Austro Hungarian Garnet Solider Hat Pin$33.23 Ends Sunday 1 bid 9 watchers
Charming Antique Hatpin Lot$32.60 Ends Saturday 7 bids 21 watchers
Lot Of 3 Antique Hatpins L@@k$32.53 Ends in 4 hours 4 bids 11 watchers
Hat Pin, Various Stick Pins, Fashion Pins & Lapel Pins$31.00 Ends Monday 10 bids 11 watchers
Rare Antique French Lucite Hatpin Deco Hat Pin Vintage$30.16 Ends Sunday 2 bids 2 watchers
Rare Antique French Hat Pin Hatpin Millinery Vintage$29.25 Ends Monday 1 bid 10 watchers
Team Lahaie 1987 Top Fuel World Champ Hat Pin Htf$29.00 Ends in 2 hours 5 bids 1 watcher
German Hunting Hat Pin Saint Hubertus Stag Gamsbart$28.00 Ends Sunday 2 bids 9 watchers
Antique Hat Pin Intricate Design With Rhinestone Top$27.09 Ends in 15 hours 2 bids 20 watchers
3 Vintage Hat Pins With Antique Hand-painted Holder. $26.95 Ends Sunday 7 bids 9 watchers
Art Deco 14k Gold Diamond Equestrian Horseshoe Hat Pin$26.00 Ends Sunday 3 bids 8 watchers
Antique Glass Orb Hatpin Victorian Elegance!$25.00 Ends in 4 hours 10 bids 14 watchers
Lot Of Five Us Military Hats Caps Navy Hat Pins$25.00 Ends in 16 hours 2 bids 9 watchers
Team Lahaie Top Fuel Hat Pin Htf$25.00 Ends Sunday 5 bids
German Fluffy Shooting Hat Pin Rifles Target Shield$24.99 Ends in 18 hours 1 bid 4 watchers
Antique Sterling Silver Hair Comb Ornate Hat Pin Vanity$22.99 Ends Wednesday 3 bids 13 watchers
28 Vintage Hat Pins / Stick Pins And 2 Hat Pin Holders$21.59 Ends Sunday 3 bids 8 watchers
Vtg Art Deco Jabot Hat Pin Pearl Celluloid Rhinestones$21.50 Ends in 37 mins 10 bids 8 watchers
Puma Shirt Or Hat Pin (mint) Vary Rare ~knife~knives~$20.60 Ends in 21 hours 12 bids 19 watchers
Antique Hatpin W/ Amethyst Color Stone$20.50 Ends Sunday 2 bids 15 watchers
Antique Long Hatpin Prong Set Round Rhinestones ~ Nr ~$19.99 Ends Thursday 1 bid 5 watchers
Vintage Ww2 German Eagle Hat Pin With All 3 Tabs$19.39 Ends Tuesday 1 bid 9 watchers
Antique Solid Silver Hat Pin By Charles Horner C1900 $19.11 Ends Sunday 4 bids 11 watchers
German Hunting Hat Pin Saint Hubertus Stag Konigssee$17.50 Ends Sunday 1 bid 3 watchers
Stunning Antique Edwardian Hat Pin$17.44 Ends Wednesday 2 bids 31 watchers
Old Hb Quimper France Tri Form Vase + Hatpin Holder$16.05 Ends Sunday 3 bids 12 watchers
Vintage Beaded Niagra Falls Pin Cushion--plus Hat Pins$15.99 Ends Saturday 1 bid 1 watcher
Wwii Us Army Officers Hat Pin Badge Eagle Air Corps Too$15.62 Ends Saturday 3 bids 3 watchers
Wwii Us Army Officers Hat Pin Badge Eagle Navy$15.62 Ends Monday 6 bids 1 watcher
German Alpine Swiss Boar Tyrolian Hunting Hat Pin$15.55 Ends Tuesday 2 bids 8 watchers
Vintage 1940's Nettie Young Hat Great Feathers!! Hatpin$15.50 Ends Thursday 2 bids 2 watchers
Victorian Lions Heads Long Ornate Hat Pin Original$15.50 Ends in 15 hours 3 bids 9 watchers
Vintage Antique Lot 3 Hat Pins Old Estate Purchase$15.49 Ends in 14 hours 7 bids 6 watchers
300 Very Assorted Collector's - Lapel - Hat Pins$14.99 Ends Sunday 1 bid 3 watchers

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Recent News: Hatpins and Hatpin Holders

Source: Google News

TUAW Interview: Fake Steve Jobs
tuaw.com (blog), November 17th

How badly do you want to drive hat pins into Eric Schmidt's testicles? FSJ: Well, very badly, except that Eric Schmidt does not have testicles...Read more

Blaze of glory... the iconic Sixties portraits that escaped an inferno
Daily Mail, November 12th

I once had to get some hatpins from Woolworths and he told me: "I haven't been to Woolies to nick anything for two years"' Michael Caine: 'I photographed...Read more

Regal performances and auction of precious items
Bangkok Post, November 11th

A brooch or hat pin in the shape of a bird of paradise, together with an Omega De Ville watch. 5. An antique display shelf with a portrait of the princess...Read more

Memoir 'Last Words' is pure George Carlin
USA Today, November 9th

"He was taking up far too much room," she said. "So I took out my hatpin and showed it to him and said: 'Condense yourself!' "...Read more

Checkered collection speeds race memories
Danville News, November 7th

standing in his home office — his “man cave” — and indicating three wooden display cases of model cars, trading cards, hat pins, bobbleheads, and more...Read more

Musical takes audience on taste test of relationships
Hills Shire Times, November 6th

“After co-writing Hatpin I had always wanted to write a musical not like a script but based on a series of short stories that rolled along in song...Read more

Tuesday's events
Greeley Tribune, November 3rd

HEADWEAR AND HATPINS EXHBIT, Greeley History Museums, 714 8th St. Details: (970) 350-9220 or www.greeleymuseums.com. « 2009 MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS...Read more

City Police Investigate Rapes
ABC2 News, November 2nd

And I carry a long hat-pin. Anything sharp,' she said. The victims were all taken to local hospitals with non-life threatening injuries...Read more

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