The dealer from whom I bought this bonnet described it as a Shaker bonnet. I have no information to corroborate that statement but I pass it on to you without claiming it to be fact. The bonnet is constructed in 3 pieces: tip. crown and brim. The plain covered tip and the drawn section of the crown (from the tip to near mid-section) are mounted on buckram. The silk of the crown is drawn in a single layer over the canes. The brim is formed separately, with the canes sandwiched between 2 layers of silk. Fabric-covered support wires run from the back of the brim section to the front edge. The brim edge is reinforced with a very stury wire that can't be easily bent with the fingers.
The broken cane is at the back of the brim section. Notice the difference in the appearance of the drawing of the silk on the crown section (right) and the brim.
This shows the hemming on the curtain, which is unlined. There is also evidence of piecing of the fabric on the brim section above and on the curtain. The curtain is cut on the bias but pieced on the straight grain.
Because the bonnet was stored on its side, the shape is somewhat distorted but you can see the characteristic dip in the center front of the brim (top and slightly left.)
The covering of the narrow horseshoe-shaped tip is set on with small pleats.
You can see where the bonnet crown and brim sections have come unstitched. The bonnet was stitched throughout with a fine thread that is now a light green. This may have been decorative when new or it may have been a fugitive black dye that has faded. The brim and crown were attached with long running stitches in a different, heavier thread that is now brown. There is only one spot where that stitching has held. I have used silk pins to hold the sections together for the photos.
A closer look at one of the fabric-covered heavy support wires.
