Figure 1.--The Au Bon Marché Paris department store offered this Jean Bart hat in 1911. It could be worn with thre brim turned up or down.

The Paris Deparment store Au Bon Marché in its winter 1911 catalog offered Jean Bart hats for younger boys. HBC is not sure who Jean Bart was. The hat had a rounded crown and wide brim. Traditionally the brim was worn straight, slightly rounded at the rim. The Au Bon Marché 1911 catalog showed the brim sportily turned up on one side or in another illustration fully turned down. This was style for a younger boy.

Au Bon Marche

Au bon Marché is a large Paris department store. We are not sure when it was founded, but we have noted advertisments for boys clothing from the early 20th century. I'm not sure when the store was founded or any details about it. The hat here was offered in the Winter 1911 catalog.

Jean Bart

Jean Bart was a French sailor of 16th century who turned to piracy. He became France's most notorious pirate. Louis XIV solved this problem Bart to his court, covered him with nobility titles and appointed him a fleet admiral. As an officer in the French Royal Navy. He fought the Dutch and English with many successes . He was ennobled by Louix XIV.

Ad Copy

The ad copy read, "No. 31444. Jean Bart pour garçonnets ou fillettes; feutre velours souple tres léger, forme dernière mode. Marine, gris, noir. ... Fr 9.75." This would translate as, "'Jean Bart' for both little boys or young girls, very light flexible/soft velvet/felt, latest fashionable style. Navy, gray, black ... Fr 9.75."

Figure 2.--The Au Bon Marché illustration showed the Jean Bart hat being worn with the brim dowm. Note the feather in his hat. It is being worn with a costume baby.

Age

The Jean Bart hat was a style for a younger boy. The age, however, is not specified in the catalog.

Gender

These hats were worn by both boys and girls.

Description

The hat had a rounded crown and wide brim. Traditionally the brim was worn straight, slightly rounded at the rim. This Jean Bart hat had a flexible brim which could be worn in several different weys. The Au Bon Marche 1911 catalog showed the brim sportily turned up on one side or in another illustration fully turned down. The illustration also shows theboy wearing his Jean Bart with a feather in it.

Chronology

The "Jean Bart" hat was popular in the late 1900s and early 1910s. During this period it was primarily worn by younger boys with fancy velvet and other suits like the "costume baby" and the sailor suit. The Jean Bart declined in popularity during the World War I period (1914-18). The Jean Bart was replaced by the hat "Bob Marin" cap which is still to this day worn by boys. While the "Jean Bart" is today rarely seen, it has not entirely disappeared. One occasionally see boys wearing it with formal outfits for events like weddings.

Costume Baby

Au Bon Marché shows the John Bart hat as being worn with a fancy costume baby trimmed in ruffles. The suits were made for boys beginning with size age 3. The Paris Deparment store Au Bon Marche in its winter 1911 catalog offered sailor suits. The sailor suit was one of the most popular outfits for boys. The sizes were not specified, but were probably for school age boys to about 12 years. The outfit included a middy blouse and kneepants and as it is winter is shown as being worn with long stockings.

Sailor Suit

Au Bon Marché shows the John Bart hat as being worn with a fancy costume baby. It might also be worn with traditional sailor suits, by younger boys. Au Bon Marché reports that sailor suits were made in sizes as small as 3 years.

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Created: November 22, 2001
Last updated: November 24, 2001