Physical description

Very sturdy brown leather fully lined with red velvet. Base has a velvet lined insert to hold the hat in position. A 2.5cm wide braid, attached at each side, fastens with a silvery, metal clip, to secure the hat in position. A velvet covered frame sits at the top of the hat box, this has an oval shaped hole over the centre of the hat. A very sturdy, heavy lid has a strap across the lid - part of which is now missing-this strap would have fastened and locked into the circular brass locking fastener on the hat box. Two metal circular studs and stitching, hold the handle in place on the lid. A label and stamp have been attached to the lid, but are now badly worn, and a third Victorian Railways stamp can be identified.A card inside the hat box reads box 564 Cowling Collection hat box/hat. We are however unable to find any evidence of a Cowling Collection. Contains Top Hat 11400.836, packed in Clothing Box 158.