Historical information

The bicorne or bicorn (two-cornered) was a hat widely adopted in the 1790s as an item of uniform by European and American army and naval officers. Military style uniforms were largely adopted for any man serving in an official capacity, such as a post master, mayor or police before specifically designed uniforms or robes were created.

Ede & Ravenscroft is London’s oldest tailor formally established in 1689 in Aldwych from where it had been operating for many years before. It was from here, amongst the many tailors, cloth merchants, robemakers, furriers, embroiderers and haberdashers that the company began its illustrious path of dressing the modern British gent.

It began with the respected tailoring family the Shudalls whose work won them the honour of creating the robes for the coronation of their Majesties King William III and Queen Mary II. They soon became a recognised supplier for the royal family, going on to produce a large number or ceremonial robes for the coronation of His Majesty King George III.

Physical description

Black hand made fabric hat with two distinctive halves pinned up to create a semi circular fan shape. Gold braided and beaded cockade with decorative knot.

Inscriptions & markings

Makers label underside of crown; Ede and Ravenscroft / London