Rare Sea Silk Hat
Pinna nobilis
Southern Italy
1920-1950
For centuries, the byssus filaments of the Pinna nobilis, a mollusk that can be discovered only in the Mediterranean Sea, have been harvested, treated with lemon juice and spices to turn it a golden color, and woven into a cloth called sea silk. These mollusks can grow to over three feet in length and they produce protein filaments that can grow up to 6 to 8 inches. Sea silk is exceptionally fine in texture and commands a high price among textile collectors. Used by ancient Egyptians for wrapping mummies, it was traditionally reserved for use by nobility in the Mediterranean region. The cloth can be woven even finer than traditional silk and produces a fabric which is light and warm. The present hat, originally owned by a collector in Zagreb, Croatia, is made of this rare sea silk.
Weighing approximately 73.8 grams. Sweatband circumference approximately 18.5 in with a length of 14 in