Fashion Goes Mad for Hats
Hats in the 1800s were becoming works of art unto themselves. Hats did more than protect the wearer from the elements, they indicated social status, and could make a bold fashion statement. From the dignified top hat to the hefty, everyday brimmed hat, felt-constructed hats were the rule for 19th century heads.
Hat felt commonly used animal hairs removed from their hides, heated and moistened then exposed to heat. The separation process had been done with urine, but French hat makers found that one hat maker taking mercury to help treat syphilis somehow made the hairs more soft and pliable, which after felting became a tough, durable fabric that was perfect for a sturdy hat. Mercury became a valued element in the fashionable hat making process.
