Rare Stetson Sombrero
DESCRIPTIONStetson, the iconic cowboy brand and maker of some of the finest felted hats in the West, made extremely few Sombreros – making this stunning hat quite rare indeed.
The intricate braided design, with rosettes and pearlescent beaded flourishes, weaves golds and olive greens together with shining metallics and muted earth tones to create a visually arresting piece of cowboy history.
DETAILS & MEASUREMENTSMeasures 17" width x 18" length x 9" height
Inside rim measures 20.5" – a 6 1/2 hat size
Sombrero itself in great condition, with some separation of the interior lining
Period Stetson hat box in decent condition, with wear and some pencil writing on the lid from age & use
Early John Stetson Sombrero
Gold factory-applied emblems on the inside band for “Ashton The Hatter, Santa Barbara” and “John B. Stetson Company” as well as the central Stetson Company crest testifying to “Made of Real Nutria Fur”
DESCRIPTIONStetson, the iconic cowboy brand and maker of some of the finest felted hats in the West, made extremely few Sombreros – making this stunning hat quite rare indeed.
The intricate braided design, with rosettes and pearlescent beaded flourishes, weaves golds and olive greens together with shining metallics and muted earth tones to create a visually arresting piece of cowboy history.
DETAILS & MEASUREMENTSMeasures 17" width x 18" length x 9" height
Inside rim measures 20.5" – a 6 1/2 hat size
Sombrero itself in great condition, with some separation of the interior lining
Period Stetson hat box in decent condition, with wear and some pencil writing on the lid from age & use
Early John Stetson Sombrero
Gold factory-applied emblems on the inside band for “Ashton The Hatter, Santa Barbara” and “John B. Stetson Company” as well as the central Stetson Company crest testifying to “Made of Real Nutria Fur”
DESCRIPTIONStetson, the iconic cowboy brand and maker of some of the finest felted hats in the West, made extremely few Sombreros – making this stunning hat quite rare indeed.
The intricate braided design, with rosettes and pearlescent beaded flourishes, weaves golds and olive greens together with shining metallics and muted earth tones to create a visually arresting piece of cowboy history.
DETAILS & MEASUREMENTSMeasures 17" width x 18" length x 9" height
Inside rim measures 20.5" – a 6 1/2 hat size
Sombrero itself in great condition, with some separation of the interior lining
Period Stetson hat box in decent condition, with wear and some pencil writing on the lid from age & use
Early John Stetson Sombrero
Gold factory-applied emblems on the inside band for “Ashton The Hatter, Santa Barbara” and “John B. Stetson Company” as well as the central Stetson Company crest testifying to “Made of Real Nutria Fur”
➼ History & Context: Stetson Hat Company
Known as the “Hat of the West,” the Stetson is iconic and known round the world. John B. Stetson started his hat company in 1865 with just $100 for renting a small room and $10 worth of fur. The next year he designed the famous hat, called the “Boss of the Plains.” Now Stetson is known the world over for quality, durability, and style.
John Stetson grew up working in his father’s hattery until he left for the West. While out in Colorado, panning for gold and hunting with his friends, he created a large hat with a wide brim out of furs and hides he had collected and wore it for the entirety of their trip, enjoying its ability to keep the elements from him. According to legend, a traveling cowboy saw the hat, admired it, and bought it right then and there with a five dollar gold piece.
Returning to the east and settling in Philadelphia to start the John B. Stetson Hat Company, Stetson began with popular hat styles of the day, but quickly created the design for the “Boss” hat based on his West experiences, with a 4-inch crown and brim, a plain hatband to adjust to new sizes, and his new brand name on the inside of the band. Stetson also branched out into “dress” hats, differentiated by their shorter crown and narrower brim.
Felted fur hats are versatile and prized for their light weight and ability to maintain their shape and withstand weather. The wide brim guards the neck and shoulders, the high top keeps a pocket of air above your head as an insulating layer, and they can famously be used to carry water for yourself and your horse. Indeed, one of the first advertising illustration Stetson used was a cowboy using his hat to water his horse, an image still closely tied to the brand today.
A symbol of the West and a mark of a cowboy’s success in its expense, each hat becomes unique, shaped to the head of its cowboy through age, use, and intention with hot steam and careful curling. Texan cowboys developed a penchant for the 10-gallon model, though interestingly the term comes from the Spanish galón, meaning braid, referring to the number of braids used to make the hatband. Stetsons have been tied to many a legend of the West, including Annie Oakley, “Buffalo Bill,” Will Rogers, and Calamity Jane.
Movie cowboys became drawn to the Stetson hats as well, following in the footsteps of their real-world counterparts but adding their own twist – the larger and more flamboyantly shaped, the better.
