A pith helmet is a lightweight hat or hard hat which protects the head from the sun rays. Traditionally, they are made from cork or plant fibre and covered with cloth.
The first pattern of such headgear appeared in the 19th century: a unified model of a pith helmet was developed in the 1840s in England for the colonial troops which served in tropical countries. Helmets of this model (Home Service Helmet) remain an element of the formal uniform of the English police even in our time.
Over time, pith helmets became popular civilian headgear. Most often, they were used by travellers during trips to hot countries. Such hats were called “panamas”.
The exhibit of the museum presents the famous pith helmet of Ivan Bunin, which he wears in many pictures. This travel hat is made of lightweight and durable cork tree and lined with cotton fabric.
The helmet was one of Bunin’s favourite headgears. The writer bought it in 1907 during a trip to the countries of the East, where he went with his future wife Vera Muromtseva.
This trip marked the beginning of Muromtseva and Bunin’s life together, which lasted 47 years. They met in 1906, and for six months they kept their relationship in secret: relatives and friends of Muromtseva did not approve her pursuit. However, in March 1907, Vera Nikolaevna finally decided to speak frankly with her father and confessed to him: “You know, I decided to make a trip to the Holy Land with Bunin”. Nikolai Muromtsev did not comment on his daughter’s desire to spend her life with Bunin – he got up silently, walked up to the sofa, over which a geographical map was put, and began to explain to his daughter where Palestine was.
Ivan Bunin often recalled this trip:
The first pattern of such headgear appeared in the 19th century: a unified model of a pith helmet was developed in the 1840s in England for the colonial troops which served in tropical countries. Helmets of this model (Home Service Helmet) remain an element of the formal uniform of the English police even in our time.
Over time, pith helmets became popular civilian headgear. Most often, they were used by travellers during trips to hot countries. Such hats were called “panamas”.
The exhibit of the museum presents the famous pith helmet of Ivan Bunin, which he wears in many pictures. This travel hat is made of lightweight and durable cork tree and lined with cotton fabric.
The helmet was one of Bunin’s favourite headgears. The writer bought it in 1907 during a trip to the countries of the East, where he went with his future wife Vera Muromtseva.
This trip marked the beginning of Muromtseva and Bunin’s life together, which lasted 47 years. They met in 1906, and for six months they kept their relationship in secret: relatives and friends of Muromtseva did not approve her pursuit. However, in March 1907, Vera Nikolaevna finally decided to speak frankly with her father and confessed to him: “You know, I decided to make a trip to the Holy Land with Bunin”. Nikolai Muromtsev did not comment on his daughter’s desire to spend her life with Bunin – he got up silently, walked up to the sofa, over which a geographical map was put, and began to explain to his daughter where Palestine was.
Ivan Bunin often recalled this trip:
