Hat pins were an essential part of any lady’s wardrobe. They were used to keep hats in place but were also beautiful as well as practical. Hat pins are an excellent item to collect. They do not take up much space and can look stunning in a hat pin cushion. They also have a wide range of values and many can be picked up extremely cheaply although the more rare and elaborate ones can fetch high prices, especially if they are by a maker such as Lalique.
Below are some examples and price guides of Art Nouveau hat pins incuding a silver and enamel hat pin by W H Haseler and a plique-a-jour hat pin.
Hat pin of enamel in red, yellow and green on silver with an art nouveau type lotus design. The pin is made of brass. Circa 1900
Reference: © Victoria and Albert Museum
AN ART NOUVEAU SILVER AND ENAMEL HAT PIN BY W.H. HASELER Birmingham, 1905, the circular terminal embossed with an entrelac motif against a blue, green and brown enamel ground, 23cm long.
Sold for £ 132 inc. premium at Bonham’s in 2010
AN ART NOUVEAU ENAMEL AND DIAMOND HAT PIN, BY LALIQUE Designed as two green and white enamel ears of wheat, within a black enamel surround with further rose-cut diamond accents, circa 1905, 24.5cm, in later Lalique case Signed Lalique
Sold for GBP 15,000 at Christie’s in 2017
Art Nouveau Gold, Green Plique-a-Jour and Pearl Pendant, Feuillatre, and Hat Pin, France 18 kt., both double-sided, pin with 2 rose-cut diamonds & 2 rubies, pendant with maker’s mark for Feuillatre, with French assay marks, c. 1900, ap. 8.3 dwt.
Sold for $3,750 (includes buyer’s premium) at Doyle in 2012
Art Nouveau Gold Enamel Amethyst Pearl Hatpin
14K Stylized floral hatpin in classic Nouveau colors. Natural pearls and faceted Amethyst. Measures 4 1/2 L x 5/8 Dia
Sold for $400 at Reverie in 2020
Art Nouveau-hat pin, in purple enamel by MEYLE & MAYER
Sold for €507 at Henry’s Auktionshaus AG in 2014
