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The matador hat, also known as a montera, is a flat-topped hat with bulbs on each side representing bull horns. It is made of curly woven fabric and features velvety scroll work. A well-crafted replica can cost between $60 and $200. Matadors usually have multiple hats and suits for safety.
A matador hat is a men’s hat traditionally worn by the matador or torero during a bullfight. It is a flat-topped hat, with a round bulb above each ear. At the beginning of the 19th century, this hat, also known as a montera, replaced the traditional three-cornered hat used in bullfights. The bulbs on each side of the hat are meant to represent the horns of a bull, and the flat piece on top of the head is analogous to a bull’s eye.
This type of hat is usually constructed of a curly woven fabric that is very similar in consistency and texture to hair. The flat part of the hat, on top of the head, usually features elaborate, velvety scroll work. The inside of a matador hat is often lined with red silk. A matador hat should fit snugly on the head to prevent it from being thrown, should the bull tear it.
The word montera translates as ‘cloth cap’. When the words bullfighter are added, their meaning changes to refer specifically to a bullfighter’s hat. Often the word montera is used alone to refer to a matador hat, as its meaning has become almost inseparable from the word.
Bullfighting hats are one of the few items in the bullfighter’s costume that have changed significantly in the last few hundred years. These competitors still wear the costume of lights, which is a sequined jacket and a pair of pants. The outfit is so named because the sequins are said to make the outfit look fine.
These hats are no longer worn by bullfighters as high quality matador hats are available for purchase all over the world, via the internet. Many of the hats are produced in Spain by artisans who understand the level of detail required for their production. Prices for a well-crafted replica can range from about $60 United States dollars (USD) to $200. The matador suit is also a very popular Halloween costume, and many novelty stores sell plastic or foam versions of the matador hat for less than $10.
A true matador’s hat is hand-sewn and can take up to a month to complete. The matador usually has multiple hats and suits, in case one is ruined during a bullfight. While the safety of this sport has improved for matadors in recent years, the potential for injury or death still exists.
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