Visual Story:The hat-making industry in Curaçao

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Straw hat production was an important source of income in Curaçao in the early 20th Century.[1] Many of the refined so called "panama hats" sold in Europe in the 1910s were produced in Curaçao.[2]

This industry is not extensively described in written sources and research, but old photographs and objects in various cultural institutions' collections document various aspects of this industry.

Hat making through time

  • Straw hat weaver with her husband and child, around 1910–20. Photo by Soublette et fils. Collection Johan Hartog, Biblioteca Nacional Aruba.

    Straw hat weaver with her husband and child, around 1910–20. Photo by Soublette et fils. Collection Johan Hartog, Biblioteca Nacional Aruba.

  • Pupils in a school for hat weaving, Pietermaaistraat, Willemstad. At the back, there's H.J. Cohen Henriquez, president of the 'Curacaosche Vereening van Hoedenvlechtsters Arbeid Adelt'. Photo by Soublette et fils, between 1915 and 1920. Collection Nationaal Museum van Wereldculturen.

    Pupils in a school for hat weaving, Pietermaaistraat, Willemstad. At the back, there's H.J. Cohen Henriquez, president of the 'Curacaosche Vereening van Hoedenvlechtsters Arbeid Adelt'. Photo by Soublette et fils, between 1915 and 1920. Collection Nationaal Museum van Wereldculturen.

  • Hat weaving taught in a Catholic mission school, Curaçao. Unknown photographer, between 1920 and 1940. Collection Nationaal Museum van Wereldculturen.

    Hat weaving taught in a Catholic mission school, Curaçao. Unknown photographer, between 1920 and 1940. Collection Nationaal Museum van Wereldculturen.

  • Pupils of the Santa Rosa hat weaving school, Curaçao. Unknown photographer, around 1930. Collection Nationaal Museum van Wereldculturen.

    Pupils of the Santa Rosa hat weaving school, Curaçao. Unknown photographer, around 1930. Collection Nationaal Museum van Wereldculturen.

  • Laborers are piling up straw hats that are bleaching in the sun. 1936, unknown photographer. Collection Nationaal Museum van Wereldculturen.

    Laborers are piling up straw hats that are bleaching in the sun. 1936, unknown photographer. Collection Nationaal Museum van Wereldculturen.

  • Five women are weaving hats in front of a house. 1936, unknown photographer. Collection Nationaal Museum van Wereldculturen.

    Five women are weaving hats in front of a house. 1936, unknown photographer. Collection Nationaal Museum van Wereldculturen.

  • In 1947, Dutch photographer Willem van de Poll portrayed this woman at work in the Lagoen village. Collection Nationaal Archief.

    In 1947, Dutch photographer Willem van de Poll portrayed this woman at work in the Lagoen village. Collection Nationaal Archief.

  • A woman at work in 1980–83. Photograph by J.D. (Jaap) de Jonge. Collection Nationaal Museum van Wereldculturen.

    A woman at work in 1980–83. Photograph by J.D. (Jaap) de Jonge. Collection Nationaal Museum van Wereldculturen.

Examples of hats from Curaçao

All examples below are from the collections of Nationaal Museum van Wereldculturen.

  • Hat made from woven bamboo strips, before 1900

    Hat made from woven bamboo strips, before 1900

  • Doll with woman's clothing, between 1920 and 1930

    Doll with woman's clothing, between 1920 and 1930

  • Woven fisherman's hat, before 1960

    Woven fisherman's hat, before 1960

  • Woven hat from 'panama straw' with decorations in felt and cotton thread. The embroidered text says "Curaçao N.A. Banda-abao". Before 1963

    Woven hat from 'panama straw' with decorations in felt and cotton thread. The embroidered text says "Curaçao N.A. Banda-abao". Before 1963

  • Cotton doll with man's clothing from Curaçao, before 1964

    Cotton doll with man's clothing from Curaçao, before 1964

Other woven objects

  • Man and woman weaving baskets in Willemstad, Curaçao, 1910–1940, unknown photographer. Collection Nationaal Museum van Wereldculturen.

    Man and woman weaving baskets in Willemstad, Curaçao, 1910–1940, unknown photographer. Collection Nationaal Museum van Wereldculturen.

  • Women showing their hand-woven baskets, Curaçao, unknown photographer. Collection Nationaal Museum van Wereldculturen.

    Women showing their hand-woven baskets, Curaçao, unknown photographer. Collection Nationaal Museum van Wereldculturen.

The collection of Nationaal Museum van Wereldculturen also contains other objects from Curaçao that are woven from straw or other plant-based materials. A few examples:

  • Part of a cigar holder, before 1871

    Part of a cigar holder, before 1871

  • Laundry basked made from mangrove roots, before 1947

    Laundry basked made from mangrove roots, before 1947

  • Lid of this basket

    Lid of this basket

  • Sewing basket from imported Carludovica straw, before 1947

    Sewing basket from imported Carludovica straw, before 1947

  • Napkin ring, before 1947

    Napkin ring, before 1947

  • Woven wallet in two parts, before 1958

    Woven wallet in two parts, before 1958

  • Woven cigar holder, before 1966

    Woven cigar holder, before 1966

References

  1. ↑ https://dspace.library.uu.nl/handle/1874/23533
  2. ↑ https://www.dbnl.org/tekst/_nee003191401_01/_nee003191401_01_0159.php
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