ROQUANCOURT Wooden Box with Bonnet, Paris, ca. 1879

This exceptionally rare antique hat ensemble, dating to circa 1875, consists of a straw hood preserved in its original wooden hat box—a remarkable survival from the late 19th century. The box, crafted by the renowned Parisian firm Roquancourt Demarcq, is a testament to the era’s innovation in hat packaging and travel accessories. A printed label inside the lid reads:

Roquancourt Demarcq; Inventor of numerous patented packing systems for Ladies' hats and hairpieces; Store for travel items, no. 9 Rue Neuve-St-Augustin; Manufacturer of travel items and packing cases of all kinds, no. 8 Rue Neuve-St-Augustin; Box Making and Packaging Republic of France Bronze Medal, 1878; Honorable Mention at World Expo 1867; 8 and 9 Rue St-Augustin, Paris.

An identical Roquancourt hat box is held in the Elgin County Museum, USA, underscoring the rarity and historical value of this piece. The box is lined with period paper, includes a metal handle, and was designed to house the hood on a small wooden and wire stand. It remains in good antique condition, with visible signs of age consistent with its provenance.

The straw hood, original to the box, is styled in rusty brown, autumnal tones, and decorated with net lace, wooden baubles, and color-coordinated silk elements including chin bands and bows. The interior is lined with fine tulle. While the hood shows moderate preservation, with some unraveling of the straw weave, it retains its decorative integrity and historical charm.

Box dimensions: approx. 21 × 26 × 32 cm

This rare 1870s French straw hood with original Roquancourt hat box is ideal for collectors of antique millinery, historic packaging, or museum-quality fashion artifacts, offering a tangible link to the craftsmanship, travel culture, and elegance of 19th-century Parisian design.