Contributed by Rosetta Marantz Cohen / Who doesn’t love a hat? Whether you wear them yourself or simply admire them on others, it is hard to deny that a beautiful, handmade hat is a marvelous object. As with all aesthetic creations, where hats sit on the continuum between high art and craft, sculpture and practical headwear, depends on the intention of the hatmaker and the predisposition of the viewer. Certainly there’s an argument to be made for giving certain hats their due as museum-worthy objects. Museums have long displayed all manner of objects intended for wear, from designer shoes to lavish evening gowns. The special display of hats currently on view at The Gallery at the Met Store makes the case that hats constitute a unique blend of high art and commodity. Situated unabashedly inside the museum store, the show is perfectly candid about what it is: a thoroughly delightful inventory of beautiful and artful yet wearable things, with prices attached.
