Opera hat which means hat, and "claque", which means "tap" or "click". The "chapeau claque" is thus a hat that folds with a click, and unfolds likewise. In English the hat model is usually referred to as a "collapsible top-hat", "gibus" or more often "opera hat"- The construction may originally have been inspired by an historical hat model called "chapeau bras" ("arm hat"), made as bicorne or tricorne to be carried folded under the arm On May 5, 1812, a London hatter called Thomas Francis Dollman patented a design for "an elastic round hat" supported by ribs and springs. His patent was
Chapeau d'Espagne I-wish-you-may-get-it, carrying nineteen pounds more than her younger rival. Chapeau d'Espagne was retired from racing to become a broodmare at Lord George Bentinck's stud. In 1841 she produced a filly sired by Bay Middleton, named All Round My Hat, who won the Nassau Stakes at Goodwood in 1844. Her other progeny were less successful and she was sold to M. Myslowski in 1847. As a broodmare for Ritter Anton and Myslowski-Koropiec, Chapeau d'Espagne produced five colts and three fillies between 1850 and 1858. There is no breeding record for her after 1858. Chapeau d'Espagne Chapeau d'Espagne (1834 – circa 1858)