Antique Edwardian Black Ostrich-Feather Hat & Original Draper’s Box
Godsmark & Son, 24 Market Place, Louth (c. 1900–1915)
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Why this duo is special
Complete provenance: the hat survives in the cardboard retail box from Godsmark & Son, a well-known Louth drapers-and-milliners whose name appears in contemporary Kelly’s Directories at 24 Market Place. 
Plume-age glamour: a dense fringe of black ostrich feathers circles the softly-domed crown—an extravagant (and expensive) fashion statement at the height of the Edwardian “Feather Age,” when plumes were literally worth more than their weight in gold. 
Hand-finished millinery: silk-satin lining, finely wired brim edge, and feather rows stitched by a plumassier echo the craft described by period manuals on feather preparation. 
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The Hat
FeatureDetail
StyleSmall perch/Toque hat for formal or mourning wear; designed to sit forward on the head and secure with hatpins.
MaterialsCurl-finished ostrich feather fringe over a buckram base; silk-satin lining; narrow velvet binding to brim edge.
Erac. 1900–1915 (late Victorian into early Edwardian) – feather-laden millinery peaked just before WWI.
DimensionsApprox. crown diameter 15 cm; overall feather diameter 22 cm; depth 9 cm (please check and amend).
ConditionFeathers supple with even colour; minor moulting at tips. Lining sound with a few age spots; binding shows gentle fade.
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The Box
FeatureDetail
PrintingBold Art-Nouveau script reads “Millinery, Mantles, Gloves.  Godsmark & Son • General Drapers • Louth.”
ConstructionTwo-part board with salmon-pink outer paper and cream interior; retains original tissue.
SizeApprox. 24 × 20 × 16 cm.
ConditionStructurally sound; scuffs, one corner bruise and old label remnants in keeping with age.
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About Godsmark & Son
Founded by Alfred Godsmark in the late 19th century, the firm offered “millinery, mantles, gloves & general drapery” from 24 Market Place, Louth.
Listings appear in Kelly’s Directory of Lincolnshire through the 1910s, confirming their role as a regional fashion outfitter supplying ready-to-wear hats and bespoke trims. 
As department-store culture blossomed, such provincial drapers were lifelines for rural customers seeking London-style fashions without the journey.
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Feather fashion in context
Ostrich plumes dominated women’s hats between 1890 and 1914; at London auctions in 1902, prime plumes fetched £32 per ounce—twice the price of gold—before conservation lobbying curbed the craze.  The lavish fronds on this hat exemplify that moment when silhouette and status hinged on a halo of feathers.
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Collectors’ & Curators’ Notes
Complete, boxed examples are scarce; the pairing strengthens museum, theatrical-costume or advanced vintage collections.
Ideal display for Gibson-Girl, Titanic-era or Downton-Abbey settings.
Store in acid-free tissue and away from bright light to preserve it.