Antique Victorian Hat Pin with Floral Orb and Loop for Ornaments

This silver or silver alloy hat pin with openwork floral orb was probably made sometime in the 1910s as those with pins/shanks longer than 9 inches were banned in 1908 and 1909. Women had found the longer hat pins particularly useful as concealed weapons. With the Industrial Revolution, women had work and new freedoms. Hat pins were easy to use to deter men who would harass them when out by themselves. There were cases of injuries and at least one death. 
 
Hat pins went out of fashion during WWI, when silver was redirected to the war efforts, and sporting one could be viewed as an extravagance during hard times. At the end of the war, women preferred shorter haircuts and smaller hats, making them obsolete.
 
Our hat pin is only 3 1/2” long with a topper/cap that fits snuggly on the sharp end of the pin/shank. The finding, where the pin/shank meets the orb, does appear to have been built as part of the head, confirming its authenticity. The shank is also a bit bent which is not uncommon as they were pushed and used. It is not marked, which was not uncommon either. It tested negative for silver using a home acid test so we are not sure of what it is composed.
 
Ours has a loop next to the finding (where the pin meets the orb) which we understand was designed to allow for the attachment of additional decorative elements, such as beads or charms.
 
We found this in our grandmother’s vintage jewelry collection. We do not know where or when she acquired this. It would be safe to say she inherited it from an earlier generation of her family.
 
There is a dent or nick in the topper as shown in photos, but otherwise it is in very good condition for its age.
 
To view a very short video about how hat pins were used, click here.
 
H 4 1/2” including pin and orb x W 1” x D 1”
Approx. 4 oz (113g)
 
Disclaimer: We have tried to make sure colors shown in photos are representative of the real colors of each item. We have tried to identify all imperfections in descriptions, but we may have missed some. If you are unhappy with your purchase, let us know.