Casgliadau Arlein

Kepi hat, a small close fitting, cap like hat with a circular shaped, flat crown and a small peak at the front, straight sides which taper downwards slightly and a more exaggerated slope at the back to fit the shape of the head. Made from cork covered in navy blue felted wool in 2 pieces 1 for the crown and 1 for the side with a seam at the back, machine sewn using navy cotton thread. Trimmed with a black leather hat band (1.7cm wide) and a white metal badge fixed to the front in the form of a crown. The peak is made from black leather with a cardboard underside, which is painted blue, the edge is bound with a thin strip of black patent leather which is machine sewn in black thread. The inside is lined with un-bleached cotton twill constructed from 2 pieces as with the wool outer this is adhered to the cork using animal glue. The wool is turned over the edges and also adhered with animal glue, there should be a lining or band to hide the raw edges of wool but it is missing, there are remains of brown linen thread used to stitch it in place and a papery substance which has been hardened by animal glue. There is a strip of gold coloured cotton velvet across the front to cushion the forehead. There are 2 size stamps and a pencil mark all read 7 1/8