Mourning top hat 1890

This mourning top hat was made by Knox, and now resides in the Metropolitan Museum of Art. In somber black, this hat speaks of a world draped in mourning. It’s not merely a hat, but a symbol laden with the weight of grief and societal expectations. Black, since Roman times, has been the color of sorrow, a visual echo of inner darkness. Consider how, in ancient rituals, mourners covered their heads to shield themselves from the gaze of the departed, a practice rooted in a deep, subconscious fear of the spectral realm. Even today, across cultures, the act of veiling or covering oneself in black during mourning persists, a testament to the enduring power of symbols to engage our emotions and connect us to a collective past. This hat is but a variation on a theme, constantly resurfacing, evolving, and taking on new meanings.