GESCHWISTER LADEWIG Bonnet, Berlin, ca. 1890

This rare velvet bonnet, dating to the early 20th century, is a poignant and beautifully preserved example of historic German fashion, crafted with care and adorned with sequins in the forehead area, original chin straps, and a decorative silk bow at the back. The label inside reads: Geschw. Ladewig – Modes – Berlin, W. – Markgrafenstr. 35, linking the piece to a Berlin-based hat salon whose full story remains elusive.

While researching the name Ladewig, we encountered records of individuals with that surname who tragically perished in concentration camps during the Nazi era. We hope that the creators of this unique contemporary testimony met a gentler fate—living out their lives in peace, far from the horrors of history.

The bonnet is in very good condition, with its original materials and detailing intact. It stands as a rare survivor of Berlin’s pre-war millinery tradition, offering both aesthetic beauty and emotional resonance.

This velvet bonnet with sequins and silk bow is ideal for collectors of antique headwear, German fashion history, or museum-quality millinery, serving as a tangible link to the craftsmanship, culture, and silent stories of early 20th-century Berlin.