A hat block, also known as a hat form or bashing block, is a wooden block carved into the shape of a

hat A hat is a head covering which is worn for various reasons, including protection against weather conditions, ceremonial reasons such as university graduation, religious reasons, safety, or as a fashion accessory. Hats which incorporate mecha ...

by a craftsman known as a block shaper. It is used by

hat maker Hat-making or millinery is the design, manufacture and sale of hats and other headwear. A person engaged in this trade is called a milliner or hatter. Historically, milliners, typically women shopkeepers, produced or imported an inventory of ...

s and

milliner Hat-making or millinery is the design, manufacture and sale of hats and other headwear. A person engaged in this trade is called a milliner or hatter. Historically, milliners, typically women shopkeepers, produced or imported an inventory of ...

s to produce a hat. Today there are only a handful of block shapers left. In the United Kingdom, hat block making has been listed as an endangered craft by the

Heritage Crafts Association The Heritage Crafts Association is a registered United Kingdom charity set up to support and promote traditional crafts. Since October 2021 it has been operating under the name Heritage Crafts. The charity was launched at the Victoria & Albert Mu ...

, with three remaining hat block making businesses still in operation as of 2022.

References

Hatmaking Woodcarving {{Art-technique-stub