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WOLF FUR HAT AS WORN ON THE FRONTIER DURING THE
INDIAN WAR ERA – A SPECIAL ITEM NOT COMMONLY ENCOUNTERED
– VERY NICE SPECIMEN:
Due to the inherent nature
of fur, the extreme environments in which these hats
were worn, and the questionable, at best, situations in
which many of them were stored once they were put away
in steamer trunks or in the attics of old homes, these
Frontier Era Fur Hats survive in very low numbers and
are seldom encountered in anything even approaching
decent condition.
Very similar in style to the Pattern 1879 US Army
Muskrat Fur Hat issued by the US Army to the enlisted
men, this Wolf Fur Winter Hat is of the style of
private-purchased hats worn by frontiersmen, soldiers,
officers, or any of the other personalities who were
found on the wind swept winter landscape of the Western
Frontier. With thick, dense fur, an integral brim, and
full sized ear flaps, these hats provided infinitely
more protection than the wide brimmed hats worn during
the warmer months. Evidence that fur clothing was
valued on the frontier, it is worth noting that by the
mid-1870’s, the army had conducted a survey and it was
determined that the current issue of wool great coats
and standard headwear provided insufficient protection
against the weather encountered throughout much of the
frontier and it was recommended that fur coats, gloves
or mittens, and hats be issued. Certainly the civilian
population was equally aware of this need, and pieces
such as this hat must have been very popular.
This Wolf Fur Hat presents in very good condition. The
fur is very tight on the skin and completely intact with
no loss of hair or bald spots. The hide is very solid
with no damage with the exception of a small separation
at the right side of the visor, immediately over the
outside corner of the wearer’s right eye. The hide is
not rotted or weak, rather this is a limited tear about
1 ˝” long that is completely hidden by the length of the
fur and does not detract from the hat when it is on
display. The balance of the hide - the crown, visor and
flap that surround the sides and back is intact.
The satin lining has
suffered from wear, and while still mostly in place,
shows some stringing and separation, all evidence that
this hat was regularly worn over a number of years. This
wear has not compromised the integrity of the hat nor
affected the display quality. The legible maker’s label
is still in place, Crosby Frisian Fur Company.
The Crosby Frisian Fur Company of Rochester, New York,
was founded in 1889, to meet the need for a heavy fur
coat which they made of cow-hide when hides from the
American Bison were no longer plentiful. G. N. Crosby
began experimenting with cow, horse and dog skins and
produced some very serviceable coats. The company
utilized a wide selection of other furs to trim the
coats and to make hats, slippers and gloves. Of special
note in the company’s history, they also had a taxidermy
department where many of the specimens from President
Theodore Roosevelt’s 1910 African safari.
Overall, this is an especially beautiful fur hat which
presents very nicely on display and would be an
appropriate addition to any Frontier grouping. (0806)
$550
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