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Museum object · Clothing - Fashion and Historical

Rust satin and black lace turban from Mae's Millinery Shop

1941-1994

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States, North and Central America

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Source catalog description

This description refers to material held by Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture. Visual details below describe the original material.

Rust turban style women's hat with black lace designed by Mae Reeves. The hat (a) is formed with buckram covered in rust silk satin that is overlaid in black lace net with a small repeating leaf design. The satin and net are tightly gathered in a circle with deep pleats at the top of the flat crown. The asymmetrical pleats around the sides of the hat are stitched down at the center back seam. A large costume brooch (b) with a two-tiered ovular design of fake bronze stones and yellow diamonds is pinned to the center front of the hat. An interior hat band is made from dark tan grosgrain ribbon. An ivory designer label with black printed text is adhered to the center back of the interior band that reads: "Mae Reeves / OF / PHILADELPHIA".

Sources & collection details

Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture — original record ↗

Source collection ↗

Catalog metadata · CC0 · Source checked 2026-10-13

Catalog reference: 2016.48.11ab

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