During the late Victorian period hair styles for women were elaborate and upswept, hats were often large and had to sit on top, rather than squash the hair. These hats were secured on the head with the aid of hat pins that were passed through the hat and threaded through the hair style.

These hatpins were owned by Nellie Shortland who lived in Sydney in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Little is known about her, though the collection this vase is from indicated that she was from a prosperous family. There are papers with letterhead of the Woods, Shortland and Co, General Carriers based at Central Railway Station in Sydney. She went to the Argyle School in Surry Hills and studied music with Trinity College, London in 1893-1894. The personal effects that make up this collection give a good indication of the types of things a young women living in late Victorian Sydney would use on a day to day basis.

Used by Nellie Shortland in Australia.

Hatpins (8) and hatpin head, metal / glass, makers unknown, used by Nellie Shortland, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, c. 1900

Long hatpin with green and gold glass ball head.

Long hatpin decorated with a painted enamel swastika, scene of Chinese garden.

Long hatpin decorated with a yellow cut glass ball shaped head.

Long hatpin decorated with a turquoise and gold stone head.

Long hatpin decorated with a painted metal oval, a woman in a garden.

Long hatpin decorated with an oval metal and diamentes head.

Long hatpin decorated with a bronze wire scroll and blue/green stone head.

Long hatpin decorated with an enamelled polychrome ball, butterfly and dots.

Hatpin head of painted glass, young woman on one side.

Made: 1895 - 1905

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1895 - 1905