Analyzing the Beaver Fur Hat: A Canadian History Artifact

This report analyzes the beaver fur hat as a significant artifact in Canadian history, focusing on its description, historical context, and importance. The report details the hat's origins, materials, and the fashion trends it represented. It examines the fur trade's impact on North America, the hat's role in European fashion, and its social and economic implications. The analysis covers the hat's production, the use of mercury, and the role of the Hudson Bay Company. The report also explores the superstitions surrounding the hat and its eventual decline in popularity due to the introduction of silk. The conclusion summarizes the hat's enduring legacy and significance in both North America and Europe. The report references sources like the Bata Shoe Museum and historical texts to provide a comprehensive understanding of the artifact.

Running head: ANCIENT HISTORY
Ancient History
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

1ANCIENT HISTORY
Introduction
The purpose of the following essay is to define the importance of the historical artifacts
in the Canadian history. The artifact that has been chosen for this paper is that of the beaver fur
hat. The description of this historical artifact will have to be given in this paper along with its
importance in the history of Canada (Batashoemuseum.ca, 2019). This artifact has really been
important since the fashion of the contemporary people can be depicted through this piece of
artifact. The reason for making this artifact will be described in this artifact as well. The different
implications of that artifact regarding political, social, economical and other issues would be
analyzed in this paper as well
Description of the artifact
The beaver fur hat has been one of the most fascinating things in the history of Canada. It
has been claimed by the historians that the men from Europe desired for these beaver fur hats
from centuries back. This had been very much crucial for the development of the fur trade of
North America from the beginning of the 17th Century (Batashoemuseum.ca, 2019). During the
1730s, the producers of these hats began to use mercury as an element to make this hat and
decorate it on the top of the hat (Innis, 2017).
The hat that has to be discussed in this paper can be dated back to the end of 19th Century.
However, this hat still has got some amount of mercury in it. This piece of artifact has been
preserved in the Bata Shoe Museum at Toronto in Canada. The background of the beaver fur hats
can be considered as a medium for the export and development of the fur trade business in the
17th century (Batashoemuseum.ca, 2019). The expanse of the fur trade in Canada had been one of

2ANCIENT HISTORY
the most important aspects for the development of business in Canada (Innis, 2017). The
Europeans bought these kinds of hats from the Canadians and excelled in fashion.
Historical context
The historical context of this paper is regarding the development of the fur trade in
Canada. The emergence of the fur trade had been one of the most important business enterprises
in the forested region i.e. regarded as Canada during the current times (Batashoemuseum.ca,
2019). This hat carries the tradition of the Canadian aboriginals and their relationships with the
European people. The trade of the fur products began as a part of the fishing industry in Canada.
The beaver is a kind of animal that is extinct now. The animal became virtually extinct since the
demand for the beavers was extremely high in the Europe for the making of the hats. As the
sources for making the beaver top hats were becoming scarce, the alternative sources were found
in the North America especially in the vast expanse of Canada (Innis, 2017).
The birth of the Hudson Bay Company began the journey of the production of these
beaver felt top hats (Innis, 2017). This beaver hat had been seen as a valuable property for all the
families. Thus this hat had been passed from the father to the son and generation afterwards. This
is why this beaver fur hat has been regarded as one of the most revered properties for the
families. This was so much significant since the beaver felt top hats were regarded as the fashion
statement and social identity of many of the highly respected people (Batashoemuseum.ca,
2019). This had been very crucial since it related to the occupation of the individual as well.

3ANCIENT HISTORY
Historical significance
The beaver hat had many good points that made the use of this property so much valuable
to the European gentlemen. This beaver hat was water-repellant. It had the wide brims as well
that helped the users to be in safe side while in the rainy season. The hat making industry in
Europe was based in France (Batashoemuseum.ca, 2019). Apart from that the demands for the
beaver hats increased in the North America while the beavers were extensively found in the
forest regions of Canada. The fur of the beaver made it so much comfortable for the users
because the beavers had little barbs at their end. This had put great value to their skin and the
hats that were made out of it (Innis, 2017).
The beavers were found out and generally killed for the fashion of the people. This is
why the Hudson Bay Company did not make the hats out of beaver but they sold the furs in
auction. The company had presented the beaver top hats to the most important and reputed
persons of London (Batashoemuseum.ca, 2019). This would secure their investment in the
beaver fur trade. There have been so many superstitions regarding the fur of the beavers. The
beaver hats were so much popular in England because it could safeguard the users in the rainy
season of England. This became popular because the umbrellas were not invented then
(Batashoemuseum.ca, 2019).
The memories of this hat had been remarkable (Innis, 2017). However, the popularity for
the beaver hats came to a downfall because of the invention of silk that less expensive than that
of the beaver hats. However, it was also very much stylish as well. It cannot be denied that the
popularity of the beaver hats was at the top during the 17th and 18th centuries
(Batashoemuseum.ca, 2019). The superstitions also went to a level that a deaf person would gain

4ANCIENT HISTORY
back his or her hearing power if he or she wore that beaver hat. Thus this historical artifact had
been very much in news during those years.
Conclusion
The paper can be concluded by saying that this historical artifact of the beaver fur hat had
been very much popular in both North America and Europe. The popularity of this historical
artifact was at the top since the users gave so much value to the use of these hats. However, there
had been some superstitions regarding this hat that made it so much popular indeed.

5ANCIENT HISTORY
References
Batashoemuseum.ca. (2019). Fashion Victims. Retrieved from
http://batashoemuseum.ca/fashion-victims/#gallery-6
Innis, H. (2017). The Fur Trade in Canada: an introduction to Canadian economic history.
University of Toronto Press.