BIZARRE AND TRULY UNIQUE, ENGLISH PUNISHMENT/HUMILIATION HAT

Ranking with punitive devices used to shame miscreant commoners like the brank, scold’s bridle and Schandmaske. Made with a molded hardened leather skull of Derby form with steel base band, five steel plates and a pair of tubular horns, all secured with leather lash. The interior finished to the highest standard with satin lining and adjustable sweat band. Made by Gieves ltd (today Gieves & Hawkes) on Savile Rd, one of London’s top tailors by royal appointment. Surely very costly when made attesting to its importance to whoever ordered it and relegating it to England's upper (noble) class who were up to all sorts of strange things in the pre war period. We contacted Gieves who recognized the item as their work, however no records of its production or purpose were available as many of their records were destroyed in the WWII London Blitz. Probably made for one of the secret societies in London in the early 20th century, or perhaps an even more sinister (satanic?) purpose.