The year is 1888. The town is London. The country is England. It is the height of the Victorian age where the rich are very rich and the poor are extremely poor. Jack the Ripper, child labor, poverty and prostitution are all the rage. The Victorians set the standard for what we consider to be the stuffy attitude of the English people. Proper form was expected and the ladies could not show their ankles without scandal. For goodness sake, the table cloth was invented to cover the legs of the table else the men might be overcome with desire and fall into a sexual rage.

Enter the hat stand, or hatstand, or hat rack. The hat stand sat in the front hall of every house in the Victorian Age along with the obligatory coat stand or coat rack. The front hall was the entrance and first introduction to the house and it was considered proper etiquette to remove one's hat upon entering. Where would a gentleman put said hat so as not to offend the house owner, so a hat stand was in order. The hat stand also served for hanging coats and umbrellas. A hat stands only purpose was not function, but also to establish a family's wealth and social status. Having a hat stand also showed off one's know of the latest trends and current styles. When one walked into a house with a proper hat stand, all was right in the world. One knew where to hang one's hat, and where you hang your hat is home.

A hat stand or hat rack is normally made of wood and typical stands about five feet tall. The hat stand is comprised of a main pole making up most of its height that is connect to a solid and sturdy base. This base must be heavy in order to prevent toppling when the hat stand is full of hats and heavy coats. There are several limbs that branch off of the main pole of a hat stand, usually curved up in order to hold the hat when place upon it. Depending on the size of the hat stand, it could have few or many limbs branching off.

Hat stands were also used for decoration. The limbs of the hat stand could have decorative knobs at the tips of them and the wood of the entire hat stand could be carved in intricate designs. The complicated shapes of the limbs could also create interesting patterns.

During the early 1900's, houses became smaller and hat stands lost their flair. Many people would have to forgo the hat stand and instead hang their hats and coats on a much more space friendly hat rack. A hat rack hung on the wall and did not require any floor space. Hat racks were typically long beams that hung on the wall with curved spines jutting out to hang things from. Front closets were also being built and used instead of the trusty hat stand.

The Hat Stand Today

Today the hat stand is making a comeback. With a great housing boom, especially in the United States, many large houses were built. Open floor plans are all the rage and there is plenty of room for a lovely hat stand and even a separate stand for umbrellas. Many people are making the choice to have hat stands in their foyer again, signifying their status or to simply enjoy the convenience and beauty of the hat stand.

Below is an instructional video on how to make a hat for your new hat stand.  Fun!