A not-outrageous German hat?

[Eric the Ugly]

So I was looking through a book the other day entitled What Life Was Like in Europe's Golden Age. I saw many period engravings and paintings that featured German peoples wearing hats that weren't the large "starfish" hats and the like. They were rather humble and mundane. A few looked very much like the typical flat caps...only...not. Another one looked something similar to the cliche "Robin Hood hat"...only...not. (Yeah, I know. I have quite the command of the English language. I know you're stirred.)

I did some major Google image searching but was unable to dig up anything decent.

Does anyone have any good images?

Anyone know if any merchant offers anything such as these?

[Syrilla]

Like many other eras and nationalities the hats were from what you made of it.  Most hats start with a crown and brim and then they were folded, stretched, pinned, pleated, tacked, bedazzled, feathered, and cemented.... ok, maybe not the cement part. 

You could look at the peasantry, religious orders, and surrounding countries for inspiration.  Many of the outrageous hats you see are started from a particular grouping , Landsknecht, and not a "normal" German wear.   If there was ever such a thing, as it was a large area.

http://curiousfrau.com/
A good information site

[Eric the Ugly]

Hey, now that's a handy little site. Thanks for that. Interesting stuff.

[Syrilla]

Glad you could use it!

[Mythrin]

The movie Luther has a nice selection of head gear that is non -landsckenkt and therefore not so over the top.  I have recognized some of the garb from portriats of the people they are portraying, which gives me some hope that the costuming is reasonably well done.   Also, do a search on the painter Cranach and you will see even more.

[Eric the Ugly]

That is so weird. I just watched Luther yesterday morning and was thinking the same thing and again thinking about this thread I started.

What are the odds of that?


The garb did indeed seem well done and reasonably accurate (as much as I am given to know). There were a lot of interesting variations of the basic flat cap in the many crowd scenes.

[LadyOren]

Be sure to keep a journal if you decide to make the hat.  I'm sure you will enspire others to try.  Oh and BTW I've used alot of the reciepes from http://curiousfrau.com/  too.   Best wishes!