{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O302946"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O302946/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2018LD1577/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2018LD1577/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"low","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2018LD1577","copyright":"©Victoria & Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2018LD1578","copyright":"©Victoria & Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":null},"record":{"systemNumber":"O302946","accessionNumber":"T.688-1997","objectType":"Millinery hood","titles":[{"title":"Excelsior Etui","type":"manufacturer's title"}],"summaryDescription":"","physicalDescription":"Millinery hood, red rabbit fur-felt brushed into a velour texture, with paper label from the manufacturer","artistMakerPerson":[],"artistMakerOrganisations":[{"name":{"text":"I. J. Fisher & Co., Ltd. (Fisher's Hat Factory)","id":"AUTH414169"},"association":{"text":"manufacturers","id":"AAT25230"},"note":""}],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"rabbit","id":"x40960"},{"text":"paper","id":"x30308"}],"techniques":[{"text":"felting","id":"AAT232049"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"rabbit fur-felt velour, paper","categories":[{"text":"Hats and headwear","id":"THES48943"},{"text":"Accessories","id":"THES48998"},{"text":"Fashion","id":"THES48957"},{"text":"Womenswear","id":"THES49044"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"T&F","id":"THES48601"},"images":["2018LD1577","2018LD1578"],"imageResolution":"low","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"006","id":"THES326455"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"hat","id":"AAT46106"}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Northern Ireland","id":"x29499"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"c.1960","earliest":"1955-01-01","latest":"1964-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"","dimensions":[{"dimension":"","value":"","unit":"","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[{"content":"Paper label on hood","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"I. J FISHER & CO. LTD., COOKSTOWN\r\n\r\nEXCELSIOR ETUI\r\nDIOR RED/6443\r\n\r\nMade in United Kingdom","type":"","note":""}],"objectHistory":"The paper label attached to the millinery hood includes a colour note reading \"DIOR RED\" which is probably a reference to the rich lacquer-red colour of the hood rather than an indication that this was designed or made exclusively for Dior. This was found in Museum stores in 1997 alongside a fully finished light brown-cream Dior hat made from a similar rabbit-fur felt velour millinery hood. It is not known from where these items originated as they had been sitting in stores for some time without their origins being recorded, but the similarity between the hood and the materials of the Dior hat, particularly with the hood being marked \"Dior Red\" may explain why this hood was initially assumed to be a Dior model. \r\n\r\nMillinery hoods were designed to be steamed into shape over blocks to mould them and made up into hats. Occasionally, they could be minimally altered and worn as is without the design being amended, but the paper label on this hood indicates that it has never been used.\n\nFisher's Hat Factory was active in County Tyrone, Northern Ireland, from 1950 to around 1969, and was a major employer of local people, including Irish country singer Philomena Begley (b.1942) who worked there for six and a half years from around 1958 to 1965 before her big break.\n\n- Daniel Milford-Cottam, 02/09/2026","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Velour millinery hood, I. J. Fisher & Co. Ltd., Cookstown, Northern Ireland, late 1950s or early 1960s. Labelled as 'Excelsior Etui' and as 'Dior red' (probably colour note)","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["T.688-1997"],"accessionNumberNum":"688","accessionNumberPrefix":"T","accessionYear":1997,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2026-09-02","recordCreationDate":"2009-06-24","availableToBook":true}}