Lock & co, hatters st James street, London black Bowler hat, size 59cm - 7 3/8ths old money
Some history…
The iconic dome-shaped Coke hat (pronounced “cook”), better known today as the Bowler hat, was first created in 1849 for Edward Coke, the younger brother of the 2nd Earl of Leicester. He commissioned the design from Lock & Co. Hatters as a tough, close-fitting hat with a low, rounded crown. The goal was practical: to protect the heads of Coke’s gamekeepers at Holkham Hall in Norfolk as they rode through wooded areas, shielding them from low branches and thorny trees.
Before this, gamekeepers and estate workers typically wore tall top hats with stiff, square crowns. These often got knocked off and damaged when riding, making them impractical for rugged outdoor work. The new design offered a sturdy alternative. Lock & Co.’s chief hat maker, Thomas Bowler, created the prototype—giving rise to the name “Bowler hat.”
Legend has it that on December 17, 1849, Edward Coke traveled to London to inspect the finished hat. To test its durability, he placed it on the floor and stomped on it. Impressed that it held its shape, he paid 12 shillings for it on the spot.
Though widely known as the Bowler, Lock & Co. named the hat the “Coke,” following their tradition of naming custom hats after the client who ordered them.