Miniature woven-straw souvenir sombrero brooch, hand-lettered CUBA

Object/Artifact

-

Archive of Cuban Socialism

Name/Title

Miniature woven-straw souvenir sombrero brooch, hand-lettered "CUBA"

Entry/Object ID

2025.1.147

Description

A small novelty brooch in the form of a miniature wide-brimmed straw hat (sombrero), made of fine plant-fiber/straw cordage coiled and stitched in a spiral from the crown outward to a downturned brim. The crown is raised and rounded; the brim is broad and slightly irregular/wavy. The upper brim is hand-lettered "CUBA" in black ink. The underside carries a metal safety-pin–type brooch fitting fixed across the inside of the crown, with a small folded dark red ribbon/fabric tab retained under the pin. The straw shows natural cream-to-tan tones with darker brown mottling and age spotting. One of a series of three; one of these rests on a spotted (foxed) rectangular card with a cut tab and a slot/pin (shown in one of the images). The piece reads as a handmade revolutionary memento. No maker's mark is present.

Use

Found hidden beneath artisanal jewelry inside a cardboard box. Belonged to Gertrudis Caraballo Gálvez.

Collection

The Cabrera Arús family collection, Gertrudis Caraballo Gálvez collecition

Acquisition

Accession

2025.1

Made/Created

Date made

circa 1959

Place

Country

Cuba

Region

Caribbean, Central America

Notes

Maker: Not identified; no maker's mark or label. Handmade Cuban souvenir/artisanal craft. No individual maker indicated. Date: circa 1959 (donor estimate, attributed). No date appears on the object, and the form is not independently datable to a specific year. Place of Origin: Cuba (indicated by the hand-lettered "CUBA" and the souvenir-craft type). Specific locale not indicated.

Inscription/Signature/Marks

Notes

Hand-lettered "CUBA" in black ink on the upper brim. No maker's mark. (The associated card backing bears no legible text in the views provided.)

Materials

Material Notes

Materials: Woven/coiled plant fiber (straw or palm/sisal-type cordage); black ink (lettering); metal brooch pin (safety-pin form); small dark red ribbon/fabric tab. Associated card: paper/cardstock (separate item). Technique: Coiled-and-stitched straw work (spiral coil from crown to brim), hand-shaped into a sombrero form; hand-inked lettering; applied metal pin fitting for wear as a brooch.

Condition

Overall Condition

Fair

Relationships

Related Person or Organization

Person or Organization

Gertrudis Caraballo Gálvez

Notes

owner

Related Places

Place

City

Havana

Country

Cuba

Region

Caribbean, Central America

Notes

acquisition, preservation

Created By

María A. Cabrera Arús

Create Date

March 26, 2026

Updated By

María A. Cabrera Arús

Update Date

June 18, 2026