Antique & Vintage Dress Gallery
www.antiquedress.com
11
IMAGES:
#9283
- c. 1940's BES-BEN Museum Quality "Mantilla Comb"
Hat! In 1920, Benjamin Greenfield and
his sister Bessie (hence the "Bes-Ben" name
merging their first names!) opened a millinery shop
in Chicago. In 1938 they moved to the fashionable
Michigan Avenue, and Benjamin soon became known as
"The Mad Hatter of Chicago" with his
outrageous designs. His famous clientele included
Lucille Ball, Marlene Dietrich, Judy Garland and
Elizabeth Taylor... with his hats selling for between
$37.50 - $1000! Maine Antique Digest wrote
"Every summer, however, he would clean out his
inventory for the new season at a midnight sale,
marking down the hats to s little as $5. Then at 2
AM, he would toss the rest out the front door to
waiting bargain hunters."! In 1999 a Bes-Ben hat
sold for $18,400 at auction. In my opinion (yeah, who
asked me!) some Bes-Ben hats aren't all that
attractive, however this is a definite exception!
Black felt cap trimmed in tiny red beads with a huge
tortoise shell mantilla comb attached! The only issue
is the torn veil, but I will include a vintage veil
to replace this one if you would like.SOLD
- but on display in Museum Category for Research/Display
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