Straw Experts, what did I win??

[zetwal]

When you have a chance, take some close-up photos of the weave outside and inside the hat. The Leghorn shows a plaited or braided weave, often with concentric rings that accent the pattern.

Personally, I think that the "Leghorns" that we have seen on the Lounge thus far are examples of coarse inexpensive types. Where they were actually woven, I have no idea. But I think it fair to say that they are probably the "subfinos" of the Leghorn realm, so to speak. I even wonder if they may not have been made once the art was long in decline. I think there was a time when very finely woven Leghorns were available. Might they have once enjoyed the reputation that would later come to be associated with the fine Montecristi from Ecuador? Take a look at this women's Leghorn reported to be from the first half of the 1800s, and imported from Italy.

 

[alanfgag]

I think you are right Zetwal and I seem to remember a post somewhere in another thread referenced an early 20th C. source showing a wide range of qualities in Leghorn weave approaching the diversity of hats from Panama. The few examples I have are commercial offerings from major hat companies and likely represent the mainstream quality that we would see in Panama offerings from the same sources.

That said... mohair can make just as beautiful a sweater as cashmere... just a little scratchier.

Quite the high crown and wide brim on that. Wonder if it had a TAR or WAR originally?!

 

[fedoralover]

This hat must be a run of the mill cuenca, here's a close up it next to another vintage cuenca I bought this spring. The so called "Leghorn" weave is the first one. It looks almost identical to the other one except is has a more yellow tone to the straw. Still, I'm not unhappy with it considering the price I got it for.

fedoralover

 

[zetwal]

This hat must be a run of the mill cuenca, here's a close up it next to another vintage cuenca I bought this spring. The so called "Leghorn" weave is the first one. It looks almost identical to the other one except is has a more yellow tone to the straw.

They sure do look the same. Almost identical.

 

[alanfgag]

They sure do look the same. Almost identical.

They sure do. Maybe we have learned what a genuine leghorn Panama is after all.

 

[hatophile]

The hat cleaned up nice, I'll say.