Uploaded September 2024 | Updated September 2026, 3 days ago
A number of impressive 'imitation fur pile' hats survive from high status male graves from the Danish Bronze Age. They have sometimes been called 'war bonnets', but may also be more general symbols of rank. They represent incredibly skilled work, with several layers of fabric secured by meticulous and often decorative stitching before the sewn pile of knotted threads is applied.
Although these are frequently mentioned in academic literature, there isn't a lot of accessible information about their construction and replication. I decided to learn more about them by trying out the techniques.
My version is a long way from perfect, I always knew I'd missed discussions of these due to my being an English speaker, and getting access to some classic German texts half way through the project gave me plenty to think about.
There are still questions that need answering about these hats, and I'm extremely open to suggestions of improved working order from anyone who has studied them.
This is a long video. Feel free to skip back and forth in it to get to the parts that interest you most!
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I now have a 'buy me a coffee' page which helps fund my ongoing research and the making of these free videos. If you'd like to support me, please visit ko-fi.com/sallypointer Thank you!
A number of impressive 'imitation fur pile' hats survive from high status male graves from the Danish Bronze Age. They have sometimes been called 'war bonnets', but may also be more general symbols of rank. They represent incredibly skilled work, with several layers of fabric secured by meticulous and often decorative stitching before the sewn pile of knotted threads is applied.
Although these are frequently mentioned in academic literature, there isn't a lot of accessible information about their construction and replication. I decided to learn more about them by trying out the techniques.
My version is a long way from perfect, I always knew I'd missed discussions of these due to my being an English speaker, and getting access to some classic German texts half way through the project gave me plenty to think about.
There are still questions that need answering about these hats, and I'm extremely open to suggestions of improved working order from anyone who has studied them.
This is a long video. Feel free to skip back and forth in it to get to the parts that interest you most!
----
I now have a 'buy me a coffee' page which helps fund my ongoing research and the making of these free videos. If you'd like to support me, please visit ko-fi.com/sallypointer Thank you!
