Hatpin Holder
Q: I’m an avid collector of hatpins and hatpin holders. I haven’t been able to identify the maker or date of this hatpin holder. It has this mark on the bottom and has 13 holes in the top. I would appreciate any help.
A: Hatpin holders were popular from 1860 to 1920, when hatpins were fashionable. The large, heavy hats of that era needed long hatpins to hold them in place. Hatpin holders were made of ceramics, glass, or metal. Most have six or eight holes. Holders with more holes were usually for men’s tie pins, but the decoration on your holder is too feminine for a man. Holders with saucers, like yours, were made later than those without saucers. The saucer probably held the “nibs” that covered the end of the pins. Longer hatpins, popular from 1890 to 1914, protruded from hats and were considered “dangerous” in crowded places, so laws were passed in some areas limiting the length of hatpins or requiring that the sharp ends be covered. A woman protesting the law said she removed her hatpin when leaving the street car alone in the evening and held it as a weapon to protect herself. Hatpin holders have been reproduced and fantasy holders have been made. The mark on your hatpin holder is not clear, but it looks like a mark used on fantasy hatpin holders made in Taiwan since the 1980s.
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The number of holes on ladies Hatpin holders can vary from six to as many as thirteen. Some holders have a larger center hole (dime-sized) surrounded by the usual small-sized holes. The thing to beware are domed-top pieces with a lot of pin-sized holes because they are either powder or sugar shakers (will have a dime or nickle-sized hole in the bottom for filling) or it will be a fantasy piece…a nice way of sayng a FAKE! As an example, many of the sterling silver overlay holders which I favor have the dime-sized center hole with twelve smaller holes around it.
I have a love hatpin holder inherited from my mother with 13 holes. It doesn’t have an attached tray; but, rather, has a separate round dresser tray (approximately 12″ across) Both pieces also have the “Hand Painted” “Nippon” mark with what appears to be two Japanese characters/symbols between the English words. The pieces are decorated in more greens with lighter pink flowers as well as gold “guild” paint for trim. I’m just curious as to the possible true age of these pieces.
I have a hatpin holder inherited from my mother and grandmother. It has 18 holes with no base tray. The mark on the back is “R S Germany”. Can you give me history or value??? Thank you.
That hatpin holder is definitely a new one. I also have one with the same mark but knew it was a fantasy piece by the price ($11.00). I bought it as it is quite a lovely piece even if it isn’t authentic.
I have a hatpin holder similar to the one shown. Mine is pink & white with roses and also 13 holes. I picked it up in and antique/collectable shop. The mark says hand painted nippom. It has a wreath with an hour glass in the middle. I keep a couple of my grandmothers hatpins in it.
I have a nice hatpin with a carved / pierced ivory ball head. Is this particularly collectable?