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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...
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
What All These Hatpins Were For, and Why We Stopped Using Them
Originally my husband and I collected cylinder phonographs, but after you acquire a few of them and their stands, you soon run out… [more]
Christie Romero on Differences Between Fine and Costume Jewelry Over the Decades
I started out with general antiques and collectibles... I was a dealer for a while and bought and sold all kinds of things. Gradua… [more]
Best of the Web (“Hall of Fame”)
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]
The Scrap Album
Attention paper collectors: don't miss Malcolm Warrington's exquisitely designed tribute to Victorian scraps (stamp… [read review or visit site]
All About Jewels Dictionary
This incredible reference dictionary on jewelry, from Enchantedlearning.com, is both beautiful and comprehensive. S… [read review or visit site]
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]
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
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]
Jewel History
Since March of 2007, readers of Lori Ettlinger Gross’s JewelHistory blog have been treated to her weekly (sometim… [read review or visit site]
Clubs & Associations
- American Hatpin Society
- Hat Pin Society of Great Britain
- American Society of Jewelry Historians
- Association for the Study of Jewelry and Related Arts
- Society of Jewellery Historians
Other Great Reference Sites
Top eBay Auctions
Rare Antique Cobalt Blue Fenton Orange Tree Pattern Hatpin Holder C1911
Pepsi Cola Vintage Label Or Hat Pin 1930's
Vintage Antique Sterling Silver Eagle Hatpin
Russian Antique Imperial Solid Gold 56 Grade & Pearl Tie-hat Pin By Karl Faberge
Fine Quality Chinese Export Silver Hat Pin Stand With Dragon Decoration C1900.
Very Rare! Vintage 50's-60' Harley-davidson *road Captain* Biker Hat Pins (p42)
Hand Painted Bavaria Blue Bird Floral Hatpin Holder Antique Shabby Porcelain
Royal Bayreuth Tapestry Hatpin Holder Yellow & Pink Roses
Boy Eagle Scout Type 3 Hat Pin Sterling Rank Medal Uniform Badge Merit Award Bsa
California State Board Of Forestry Fire Warden Shield Shaped Badge ,hat Pin Or ?
Vintage C.1926-1932 Bsa Senior Patrol Leader Hat Pin
New Ferrari Ball Cap Hat, Ferrari Hat Pin, Ferrari Stickers, Lot, No Res 
4 Vintage Rabbit In Hat Magician Old Enamel Lapel Hat Pin Lot Estate Sale
Antique Large Rhinestone Ball Hat Pin Long Stem Over 100 Rhinestones Beauty 19c
14 Phish Grateful Dead Hat Pins String Cheese
A Pair Of Charles Horner Art Nouveau Silver Hatpin Tops-1908
Mint White Porcelain Rs Prussia Vanity Hatpin Holder
Vintage Hat Pins Edwardian (2) Oblong Metal Mesh 14" & Green W/rhinestone Flex 
Boy Eagle Scout Type 2 Hat Pin Sterling Rank Medal Uniform Badge Merit Award Bsa
Vintage 36 Piece Lot Necklace Ring Earring Pendant Stick Hat Pin Silver Cameos
Rare Signed Rs Germany Hatpin Holder With 7 Original Hatpins - Floral Design
Victorian 7.25" Hatpin Open Brass W Amethyst Colored Center & Tiny Rhinestones
Usmc Marine Corps Eagle Globe And Anchor Screwback Hat Pin Rare Version Krew Ega
Usmc Marine Corps Eagle Globe Anchor, Marksman & Expert Rifleman Medal Hat Pin
Usmc Ega Russian Hat Pins Ribbons Tag Wwi Buckle Cib 16pc Lot Misc Wwii Items
Uswv Span Am War Veteran
Vintage Antique Job Lot 27 Hat Pins Diamante Glass Silver Gold Deco Nouveau
Antique Noritake Komaru Porcelain Hatpin Holder Pink Flowers Cobalt Gold Accents
Very Rare `golf` Hatpin Stand / Pin Cushion / Watch Stand, 1906
Antique Victorian 9ct Gold And Diamond Stick Pin Hat Pin Gorgeous Design
Two Antique Long Victorian Hat Pins With Amethysts & Emerald Green Stones
Northwood Carnival Glass Grape&cable Hatpin Holder Amethyst
2 Old Signed Japanese Moriage Heavy Enamel Floral Incense Burner Hat Pin Holder
Northwood Grape And Cable Hatpin Holder Amethyst
8 Vtg Victorian Hatpins Or Lapel Pins - Estate Collection
Vintage Art Nouveau Nippon Hand Painted Moriage Hatpin Holder Blue Flowers Japan
Lot Of 9 Hesston National Finals Rodeo Nfr & Tournament Belt Buckles + Hat Pins
Fred Spurgin Postcard Garters Stockings Hat Feather Shoes Fashion Hatpin
Widespread Panic Blue Indian Hat Pin(dead Wsp Phish Sci Um Disco Biscuits)
Antique Platinum Old Cut Diamond Set Xviii 18th Birthday? Stick Tie Hat? Pin
Nippon Hatpin Holder With Handle Heavy Gold Trim Blue Maple Leaf Mark Nr
Sold Out Dabbing Roger Marijuana American Dad Hat Pin Not Grateful,sci,sts9
Vintage Porcelain Hat Pin Holder Germany 5 3/4" Hand Painted Signed Montreaux
Wwii Us Navy Cpo Chief Petty Officer Sterling Hat Pin
Vintage Hat Pins 21 Pieces
Uss Knapp Dd-653 Tie Bar Pin Wow Destroyer, Hat Pin & Picture & Other Documents 
Half Moon Pin Cushion*rhinestones**20+ Vintage And New Hat Pins
Flaming Heart Pin Cushion*red Felt*vintage Red Twisted Blown Glass Hat Pins
Vintage Hand Painted Pin/ Large Gold Edged Lady In Large Hat Pin
Jewelry Old Victorian Fancy Hat Pin Amber Faceted Stone Estate 7.75 Inch 
Kirks Folly Purple Potion Witch Hat Pin ~ Skeleton Halloween
Lovely Antique Art Nouveau 800 Silver Comb Hand Mirror & Hat Pin Set | Ps Tx
Huge Lot Masonic Items (leg Knife,hat Pin,novelty Note,stamped Penny,flag Knife)
Meiji Japanese Satsuma Figural Geisha Bijin Ceramic Top Hat Pin
Vintage Art Deco Celluloid Hat Pin Jabot 1930s Estate Find Screw On Rhinestone
Chevrolet Corvette Owner Auto Hat Pin Lapel Pin Tie Tac Badge
2 Noordam Cruise Ship Pins Blue White & Gold Color Lapel Pins Hatpins
Vintage Porcelain Hatpin Holder/shaker Floral Gilt French Blue & White Lot Of 4
Glock Perfection New!!! Authentic!!! Stress Ball, Lapel Pin, Hat Pin!! ***lot***
Rare Disney Cinderella In Pink & White Gown Trading Lapel Hat Pin 1st Release 09
Recent News: Hatpins and Hatpin Holders
Source: Google News
Miss Rodeo Texas Pageant under way
San Antonio Express, June 18thRosanna Pace, Miss Rodeo Texas 2012, will pass on the famous hat pin in the 2013 pageant which will take place June 17 - 21. Before she pins a new winner, take a look back at the many previous holders of the title. Photo: Sarah Tressler/Express-News...Read more
Schwagstock Founder Jimmy Tebeau Heads to Federal Prison
jambands.com, June 13thAs a recent hat pin put out by his loyal followers says, “Jimmy is doing time for some other f**ker's crime”. And btw, the police went undercover for FOUR YEARS (c'mon, 4 years?) before they seized his property. 330 incredible wooded acres on a...Read more
Cheap Date: A Brush with Death
Calgary Herald, June 12th“I take a long hatpin and I push it into my arm,” he says. “Then I pause before pulling it out the other side and wiping off the blood.” Wong, 37, is a traffic engineer with the City of Calgary. He also runs Yeats Magic Co., which books magicians for...Read more
Aurora Businesses Rev Up for 6th Annual Cruzin' Havana Car Show & Poker ...
PR Web (press release), June 12thEach site features musical entertainment and free souvenirs including a Cruzin' Havana hatpin (while supplies last) and a collectors' edition 2013 Cruzin' Havana program/calendar. Participants get a chance to win gas cards in the Fuzzy Dice Roll...Read more
Stonewall and Gay Pride: Echoes From 1969
Huffington Post, June 11thAt that time a queen next to me took out a hatpin and sunk it into the horse. The horse reared up, and I darted underneath it. I looked back to see the people pulling the cop down and kicking him on the ground. I remember feeling bad for the horse. I...Read more
Former W.Va. state senator Shirley Love recovering following heart surgery
Beckley Register-Herald, June 11thOnce, an elderly woman zeroed in on a “bad guy” in the dark trunks with a hatpin. Others smuggled in knives and pistols on occasion. Love served 15 years in the West Virginia Senate, reflecting the conservative views of his 11th District constituents...Read more
The women who changed Britain forever
Big Issue, June 11thOne Poplar resident remembered the hatpins: “The matchgirls… when in any trouble, did not hesitate to use these horrible long hatpins to defend themselves.” When the striking women marched to parliament, the sight of poor women in smart streets caused ...Read more
Political slogans perplexing today
Columbus Dispatch, June 9thNippon hatpin holder, fluted flared ribbing, berries, leaves, ribbon, 1930s, 41/4 inches, $60. • Czechoslovakia glass pitcher, Queen Anne's Lace, 10 by 7 inches, $90. • Cookie cutter running horse, tin, signed C.H. Swink, circa 1860, 4 by 71/2 inches...Read more