albertaguy

Hello,

I am searching for the Czech word or phrase that is the equivalent to the English word "hatpin". These were used by fashionable ladies in the early twentieth century to secure a hat to a ladies hairdo.

Hatpins were manufactured in many countries by numerous manufacturers and typically had a decorative glass medallion attached to a shaft (of metal). The ones that I am specifically interested in were pressed / molded glass with different animal motifs. Believe it or not, bugs were a very popular choice of pattern, but birds, grapes and geometric designs were also pretty common.

The glass was often iridized resulting in a characteristic "oil on water" shimmering effect when viewed in the light.

Many thanks for your assistance in advance.

nechtiac

The word in Czech is precisely: Jehlice do klobouku

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albertaguy

It was very kind of you to respond to my question so quickly, and I appreciate your assistance very much. Thank you.

nechtiac

You're welcome ! But I wonder why you want to know it ? You aren't required to answer me but it's so strange....

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albertaguy

You are absolutely correct . . . it is a very unusual request indeed! I am a collector, and an avid internet user so I often purchase items of interest from other countries. The particular type of hatpins that I am looking for are extremely difficult to find in North America, which is where I live.

Believe it or not, I have found some wonderful items to purchase by using this simple method. I enter whatever foreign word (s) into a search engine, and scroll through the various responses. Often I end up on a foreign auction site or on a shopkeepers website. It takes a tremendous amount of time and energy, but collectors such as myself consider this to be the hunt . . . and it seems to add a unique quality to the overall enjoyment of the collecting hobby.

The molded / iridized animal motif hatpins I am searching for are rumored to have been produced in Czechoslovakia in the early 20th Century. As internet access becomes more commonplace in Eastern Europe, one would assume that information regarding these items would begin to appear on-line.

My interest in hatpins is really an offshoot of my interest in glass, which I have studied for over 30 years. At this particular point of the learning process, I have become quite fascinated with accessories such as hatpins and glass buttons (iridized). It is an unusual hobby but I find it to be most rewarding.

Thank you again for your kind assistance.

nechtiac

If it have been produced in Czechoslovakia, I give you the word in Slovak: ihlica do klobúka but I haven't found nothing on internet At least in Slovak... I hope that you will find something. If you need help for translating, I'm here !

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albertaguy

Nothing turned up using ihlica do klobúka
so I wonder if perhaps I should try a different avenue?

Can you please tell me the Czechoslovakian word (s) for button? I know that the decorative ends of some hatpins were retro-fitted to become buttons on ladies dresses.

According to my notes, the German word "geschutzt" can be found molded in to the underside of some hatpins, and I believe that "geschutzt" roughly translates to the English word "patented". Can you offer any opinion as to why a German word would have been incorporated into a product manufactured in another country?

There is very little literature on the subject, but Gablonz is usually mentioned, and I believe that Gablonz was part of the former Czechoslovakia. So, by the process of elimination I feel quite sure that Czechoslovakia is the country I should be looking in.

I have located a number of Czech auction websites that include for sale listings of antiques or antique glass. If you have the time (and energy) would you mind spending a few minutes on-line to see what you can find?

It may be best for you and I to correspond outside of this venue. My personal email address is medhatab@telus.net

I look forward to hearing from you. Thanks again for your very kind assistance.