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Italian brands hats

Messages
18,410
Location
Nederland
This came as a nice little surprise: an unknown brand (to me at least) with a high quality hat.
Maviso "Superfine" homburg in blue. Size 57 (but fits like a perfect 56). Brim sits at 5,5cm and the crown 11cm at the center dent. When I'm shopping for hats in these vintage stores I have to wade through masses of black homburgs (the good, the bad and the ugly), which means they were either a very popular model and colour or they are just survivor hats. So hats in other colours jump out at once. This one did and it's the usual very dark blue. Very high quality felt with a superb hand to it and very good finishing. Brim binding still needs a bit of cleaning, but very happy with this one.

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Daniele Tanto

I'll Lock Up
Messages
4,231
Location
Verona - Italia
This came as a nice little surprise: an unknown brand (to me at least) with a high quality hat.
Maviso "Superfine" homburg in blue. Size 57 (but fits like a perfect 56). Brim sits at 5,5cm and the crown 11cm at the center dent. When I'm shopping for hats in these vintage stores I have to wade through masses of black homburgs (the good, the bad and the ugly), which means they were either a very popular model and colour or they are just survivor hats. So hats in other colours jump out at once. This one did and it's the usual very dark blue. Very high quality felt with a superb hand to it and very good finishing. Brim binding still needs a bit of cleaning, but very happy with this one.

maviso_01-jpg.149176
Great find Stefan! For the lettering of the writing on the sweatband and the paper label would seem a hat built in Monza, but from the Moviso brand and the coat of arms could be a product of Barbisio because there are some similarities with the Aristocrat line produced in Sagliano Micca in the gold era of the Italian headwear. However it is a very nice hat.
 
Messages
18,410
Location
Nederland
Great find Stefan! For the lettering of the writing on the sweatband and the paper label would seem a hat built in Monza, but from the Moviso brand and the coat of arms could be a product of Barbisio because there are some similarities with the Aristocrat line produced in Sagliano Micca in the gold era of the Italian headwear. However it is a very nice hat.
Thanks, Daniele. I'm very pleased with it. The only manufacturer I could come up with was Barbisio as well, but that was based only on the size label on the inside of the hat, which is the same type.
 
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Steve1857

I'll Lock Up
Messages
8,839
Location
Denmark
This came as a nice little surprise: an unknown brand (to me at least) with a high quality hat.
Maviso "Superfine" homburg in blue. Size 57 (but fits like a perfect 56). Brim sits at 5,5cm and the crown 11cm at the center dent. When I'm shopping for hats in these vintage stores I have to wade through masses of black homburgs (the good, the bad and the ugly), which means they were either a very popular model and colour or they are just survivor hats. So hats in other colours jump out at once. This one did and it's the usual very dark blue. Very high quality felt with a superb hand to it and very good finishing. Brim binding still needs a bit of cleaning, but very happy with this one.

maviso_01-jpg.149176
maviso_02-jpg.149177
maviso_03-jpg.149178
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Super colour and all round great find Stefan.

The colouring of the hat liner logo is very similar to the one on my Barbisio Elite. So another indication that it could indeed be one of theirs.
f40cb2b0deacf0b55622d0f8582d6295.jpg


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Messages
18,410
Location
Nederland
Super colour and all round great find Stefan.

The colouring of the hat liner logo is very similar to the one on my Barbisio Elite. So another indication that it could indeed be one of theirs.
f40cb2b0deacf0b55622d0f8582d6295.jpg


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Steve, thanks. Yes, could very well be a Barbisio. Whatever the brand, it's one of the nicest felts I've encountered lately.
 
Messages
15,081
Location
Buffalo, NY
Pavia, the home of Vanzina is 80km northeast of Alessandria, the home of Borsalino, who acquired Vanzina in 1956. Further to the northeast (perhaps 400km) is Brunico, northern Italian alpine city where this hat was sold. You can see the Tyrolean influence in the styling - tall crown, narrow brim, a substantial and firm felt of very high quality. Brunico, at 2700 feet, is perhaps 10 miles from the Austrian border. Daniele will be a better source for Italian geography and history of course, but I tried to take the journey via Google maps.

This is an unusual example of a Vanzina hat manufactured, I believe, before the change of ownership and perhaps prior to WWII... a testament to the remarkable hats that have been discovered and passed along by Spencer on his vintage journeys. In very fine condition, the basting stitch securing the ribbon and splayed bow remains in place. The gray sweatband and fine silk liner are pristine.

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Messages
18,410
Location
Nederland
Pavia, the home of Vanzina is 80km northeast of Alessandria, the home of Borsalino, who acquired Vanzina in 1956. Further to the northeast (perhaps 400km) is Brunico, northern Italian alpine city where this hat was sold. You can see the Tyrolean influence in the styling - tall crown, narrow brim, a substantial and firm felt of very high quality. Brunico, at 2700 feet, is perhaps 10 miles from the Austrian border. Daniele will be a better source for Italian geography and history of course, but I tried to take the journey via Google maps.

This is an unusual example of a Vanzina hat manufactured, I believe, before the change of ownership and perhaps prior to WWII... a testament to the remarkable hats that have been discovered and passed along by Spencer on his vintage journeys. In very fine condition, the basting stitch securing the ribbon and splayed bow remains in place. The gray sweatband and fine silk liner are pristine.

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Another stellar hat, Alan. I love how the proportions and styling manage to make a stingy brim not look stingy at all.
 
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Messages
18,410
Location
Nederland
I once received a Panizza hat like this one from @Daniele Tanto. Gorgeous hat, but unfortunately too large for me so I traded it with @moehawk. Never found another Panizza that could compare to that original one. Until yesterday, when I found this one:
Super Panizza in what I'm guessing is a size 57 (it's slightly large for me). Raw edge brim at 5,5cm and crown 10,5 at the pinch. It does have the issue that the sweatband is coming away from the reed, but that is only because of poor stitching thread; the sweatband itself is fine. Had to have it regardless.
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Daniele Tanto

I'll Lock Up
Messages
4,231
Location
Verona - Italia
I once received a Panizza hat like this one from @Daniele Tanto. Gorgeous hat, but unfortunately too large for me so I traded it with @moehawk. Never found another Panizza that could compare to that original one. Until yesterday, when I found this one:
Super Panizza in what I'm guessing is a size 57 (it's slightly large for me). Raw edge brim at 5,5cm and crown 10,5 at the pinch. It does have the issue that the sweatband is coming away from the reed, but that is only because of poor stitching thread; the sweatband itself is fine. Had to have it regardless.
Stefan I have found in the last few days some Panizza with "indications of quality" and age to justify the purchase. Soon I will see and touch hats that could add a chapter to the history of Panizza. This that you found is very beautiful and interesting.
 
Messages
18,410
Location
Nederland
Stefan, Fantastic! Great form!
Steve, thanks you. A pleasant surprise this one.

Stefan I have found in the last few days some Panizza with "indications of quality" and age to justify the purchase. Soon I will see and touch hats that could add a chapter to the history of Panizza. This that you found is very beautiful and interesting.
Daniele, thank you. Panizza is a company from which I'd like to handle the hats first, because they're not always consistent in quality.
 
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Messages
18,410
Location
Nederland
I posted this Panizza recently, but without the labels, because the sweatband was in poor shape. Today I took it out of the hat and found out that it was attached with some kind of blind stitching method; the stitches could not be found on the outside of the hat. Very nice, but they should have used some decent thread to do it with. I reattached the reed to the sweat and shortened the sweatband an few millimeters, because of damage (and fit).
Appears it was supposed to be a size 58, but it must have shrunk quite a bit over time, because with just a few cork strips it fits me quite well (as a size 56). It does say something on the label, which I suppose is the felt colour, but I can't make out what it says exactly. I'm open to suggestions.:)

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Messages
18,410
Location
Nederland
Wasn't sure if I should post this one. La Scala in grey. Turns out this hat was made by Panizza. The moths have been at this one unfortunately. So it doesn't look at its best, even though the damage is less noticeable in real life as opposed to the pictures. Really nice hand to the felt too. Size 58 with an overwelt brim at 5cm and crown 10cm at the center dent. If anyone's interested, just let me know.

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Steve1857

I'll Lock Up
Messages
8,839
Location
Denmark
Wasn't sure if I should post this one. La Scala in grey. Turns out this hat was made by Panizza. The moths have been at this one unfortunately. So it doesn't look at its best, even though the damage is less noticeable in real life as opposed to the pictures. Really nice hand to the felt too. Size 58 with an overwelt brim at 5cm and crown 10cm at the center dent. If anyone's interested, just let me know.

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Despite its battle with moths (seems they love hats just as much as we do) that is still a nice looking Panniza, Stefan. I particularly like the hat liner and logo.

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