Atelier Laser-Etched Wool Hat

One-of-a-kind wool hat by Atelier Hats and Jewellery. The hat has both a Henri Bendel label and an Atelier label, likely meaning the hat was purchased at Bendel, with the metal embellishments added on by Atelier. 

From the details regarding an extremely similar hat (1989) from the UK V&A Collection:

“Atelier was established in 1984 by Julian Brogden, and originally specialised in jewellery. In 1986, Cathy Jordan became a partner in the business. They collaborated together to create inventive jewellery, accessories, and by the late 1980s, unusual headwear such as this bowler overlaid with a tracery of silver-plated brass. The conjunction of the silver metal with the traditional City worker's hat creates a stylish variation on an established classic. Atelier bowler hats, such as this one, were created from laser-etched artwork. Some sheets of metal were left in plain brass, while others were oxidised to give an antique finish.

Description: Wool felt with applied laser-etched, silver-plated brass decoration; the domed form achieved by hammering the metal over a wooden form with a mallet."

Approx 21” around.

1980’s-90’s.