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]


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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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Spanish-american War Stetson 4x Beaver Calvary Hat/pin$237.50 Ends Tuesday 8 bids 39 watchers
Hatpin Hiwatha Laughing Water With Holder Poem Verse$159.49 Ends Saturday 3 bids 12 watchers
Antique Art Nouveau Peacock Glass Hat Pin$129.49 Ends in 14 hours 12 bids 43 watchers
??old”? Chocolate Slag Hat Pin Holder, 6 ¾” Tall$113.61 Ends Tuesday 3 bids 19 watchers
Antique Genuine Victorian Hat Pin /lg Blue Green Stones$95.00 Ends in 15 hours 1 bid 11 watchers
1920's Boy Scout Sterling Silver Eagle Hat Pin W/box$89.89 Ends Monday 13 bids 36 watchers
Matching Wal 43 Canteen German Ww2 Exc & Skull Hat Pin$87.95 Ends in 21 hours 1 bid 17 watchers
Antique Arts & Crafts Era Hatpin ~carence Crafters$79.00 Ends in 19 hours 4 bids 20 watchers
Vintage Hat Pin / Stick Pin Art Deco 14k$75.00 Ends Monday 1 bid 5 watchers
Vintage Victorian Velvet Beaded Cushion & Hatpins Wow!$73.43 Ends in 38 mins 1 bid 4 watchers
Antique 18k Gold Fancy Diamond Enamel Love Knot Hat Pin$62.00 Ends Thursday 6 bids 10 watchers
Vintage Royal Bayreuth Rose Tapestry Hatpin Holder$51.00 Ends Wednesday 3 bids 15 watchers
Carnival Glass Hat Pin Butterfly Art Deco C.1910-1915$50.00 Ends in 14 hours 7 bids 5 watchers
Vintage Floral Engraved Silver Hat Pin C1930s Geometric$41.52 Ends in 15 hours 9 bids 7 watchers
Charles Horner Hatpin Chester 1912 With Patent Point$41.52 Ends in 14 hours 1 bid 30 watchers
World War Ll Metal Eagle Hat Pin Military Uniform$39.99 Ends Monday 1 bid 3 watchers
Vintage Rare Art Deco Fantastic Hat Pin 14k 1900 Nr$39.99 Ends in 10 hours 1 bid 2 watchers
!antique 14k Gold B & N 1.50ct Aquamarine Stick Hat Pin$38.00 Ends Thursday 7 bids 16 watchers
Rare Boy Scout 1938 Lt. Green Enamel Bars, Spl Hat Pin$37.49 Ends Monday 2 bids 3 watchers
Cased U.s. Legion Of Merit Medal, Mini Medal, Hat Pin$34.95 Ends in 12 hours 1 bid 2 watchers
Vintage Art Deco Nouveau Stickpin Hatpin Copper 10 Pins$30.01 Ends Tuesday 8 bids 9 watchers
Vintage English Sterling Hatpin Arts & Crafts Era- Wow$29.99 Ends Thursday 1 bid 13 watchers
Civil War Beautiful Crescent Hat Pin Dug$27.27 Ends in 12 hours 6 bids 8 watchers
Vintage Wwii Red Cross Nurse Uniform With Hat & Pin$26.89 Ends in 18 hours 3 bids 4 watchers
Attractive Antique Satsuma Hatpin - Geisha Girls$26.57 Ends Tuesday 2 bids 56 watchers
Vintage Victorian Hatpin Stickpin Glass Cameo Opal Lot$26.51 Ends Monday 10 bids 21 watchers
Antique Hat Pin Vintage Jewelry Stick Pin$25.88 Ends in 20 hours 13 bids 14 watchers
Ornate Vintage Antique-goldtone And Rhinestone Hat Pin$25.00 Ends Monday 5 bids 25 watchers
Old Hatpin Holder Royal Rudolstadt Beyer & Bock Prussia$24.99 Ends Thursday 1 bid 2 watchers
Vintage 12k Gold Frog Stick Or Hat Pin$24.99 Ends in 13 hours 1 bid 8 watchers
Vintage Pave' Rs Lily Flowers Fur Clip/hat Pin$24.99 Ends Monday 1 bid 4 watchers
Antique Amber Colored Stone Filigree Metal Hatpin $24.95 Ends Monday 1 bid 18 watchers
Limoges Victorian Hat Pin Holder Violet + Gold Gild$23.00 Ends in 18 hours 3 bids 3 watchers
Antique Prussia Royal Rudolstadt Hat Pin Holder $22.05 Ends in 15 hours 2 bids 3 watchers
Antique/art Nouveau Sterling Silver Hatpin / Hat Pin$21.84 Ends Wednesday 4 bids 33 watchers
3 ! Nice Vintage Ford Mustang Trucker Cap Hat & Pin Lot$20.51 Ends in 16 hours 10 bids 3 watchers
Civil War Veteran Ucv Hat Pin Wreath Confederate$20.50 Ends Sunday 5 bids 15 watchers
Antique Victorian Porcelain China Hatpin Holder$20.50 Ends Wednesday 3 bids 21 watchers
Lot 3 6-1/2" Hatpins Silver Fleur De Lis & Overlay$20.17 Ends in 18 hours 7 bids 6 watchers
Vintage Bear Grizzly Kodiak Magnum Hat Pin 4 Recurve $19.99 Ends in 13 hours 1 bid 8 watchers
Antique Venetian Glass Hat Pin 14k Gold & Multi Color$19.99 Ends in 26 mins 1 bid 5 watchers
Art Nouveau Bavaria Vintage China Hatpin Holder + 8$19.99 Ends in 17 hours 1 bid 4 watchers
Wwii Id'd Group Hat Pins Medal Ammo Belt License Box $19.99 Ends in 16 hours 1 bid 6 watchers
Antique Hat Pin Paper Weight Type Flowers$19.99 Ends in 20 hours 1 bid 7 watchers
4 Victorian Hatpin Rhinestones Paste & Citrine Thistles$19.99 Ends Thursday 1 bid 6 watchers
3 Vintage 10k Gold And Sterling Silver Stick / Hat Pins$19.99 Ends in 18 hours 1 bid 3 watchers
Fab Large Antique Cut Steel & Mother Of Pearl Hat? Pin$19.99 Ends Wednesday 1 bid 8 watchers
Vintage Porcelain Hatpin Holder With Vintage Hatpins$19.95 Ends in 20 hours 1 bid 3 watchers
Bavarian Porcelain Hatpin Holder With 11 Retro Hatpins$19.95 Ends in 20 hours 1 bid 1 watcher
Victorian Rhinestone And Brass Square Hatpin Hat Pin$19.50 Ends Thursday 1 bid 3 watchers
2 German Hunter Hunting Hat Pins Stag Skull Djv Mark$17.50 Ends in 14 hours 3 bids 5 watchers
Vintage Powder Shaker Jar Or Hatpin Holder$17.00 Ends in 18 hours 7 bids 5 watchers
Vintage Glove Box + Gloves, Hat Pins, Daschund Cork.$16.59 Ends Tuesday 1 bid 7 watchers

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Recent News: Hatpins and Hatpin Holders

Source: Google News

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

Somerset Auction Gallery
Antiques and the Arts Online, November 5th

antique cameo brooches, hat pins, ivory bangle bracelet, nostalgic pins, loads of high end estate costume jewelry, tons of sterling jewelry & more!...Read more

Mason County CEOS members attend Area Fall Conference
Point Pleasant Register, November 3rd

While one group of ladies looked for missing hat pins, another group worked on a craft. The glue gun was kept busy as everyone enjoyed making lapel pins...Read more

Burchill to speak at Jewels meeting
Jamestown Sun, November 3rd

Everyone received a packet with the little Red Hat pin and postcards to mail to the special women in their lives to remind them to take care of themselves...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

Hit song cycle returns
Aussie Theatre, October 22nd

measure by the show's writers, the immensely talented lyricist James Millar and composer Peter Rutherford, the team that created the musical The Hatpin...Read more

Make your own memories
Aussie Theatre, October 18th

Highlights continue – the Australian premiere of The Hatpin, Kookaburra's stunning production of Little Women and the little-seen but well put together...Read more

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