Black beret with beaded details from Mae's Millinery Shop

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.

Black wool felt beret designed by Mae Reeves with hand beading using black bugle beads in meandering three-columned lines interspersed with spirals. Spaces between the bugle bead elements are filled in with black seed beads in a vermicelli pattern. A length of black wool heavily beaded with black seed beads is doubled over and sewn into the fold at the proper left side. The beret has an interior hat band made of red grosgrain ribbon. An ivory fabric designer's label with black printed text is adhered at the center back of the interior band that reads: "Mae Reeves / OF / PHILADELPHIA".

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