Black velour bicorn-academician's hat, decorated with cockade and ostrich feathers, owned and worn by Georges Dieulafoy and then inherited by his nephew Bessaiquet(?), accompanied by certificate of authenticity, made by Donny, Paris, French, 1850-1910

Decorated with a cockade and ostrich feathers, this velour hat was worn by Georges Dieulafoy (1839-1911), a famous French surgeon, physician and pathologist. A number of medical conditions are named after him and he also invented a variety of instruments – most notably an aspirator for removing liquid from the pleura which surround the lungs.

Hats like this one were worn by members of academic and scientific societies.