Not on display

This object consists of 3 parts, some of which may be located elsewhere.

Wedding Hat

19th century (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

FE.145-1975: A red satin wedding hat, with black seal fur brim. The red satin crown is ornamented with a trellis of interlocking circles in eight segments, the framework covered with kingfisher feathers. These panels are further ornamented with decorative moths composed of coral bodies, bright green jade wings, and seed pearls on the end of coiled wire antennae; and a variety of floral motifs composed of jade, glass, coral, seed pearls and kingfisher feathers. The hat is surmounted by a coiled coral bead topknot, with swastika emblems defined in seed pearls and kingfisher feathers. Two long red satin streamers are attached to the back of the hat, in the form of a queue, and are embroidered in fine green silk cord, gilt thread, seed pearls and coral beads with a design of stems of leaves and double gourds; each of the latter with the characters 'ta chi' - 'great good fortune' defined in coral beads. The streamers are finished with multi-coloured silk tassels.
FE.145&B-1975: The oval box, with original padded silk lining, is painted on the outside on a red lacquer ground with a design, in gilt, of three medallions (two on the sides of the box and one on the lid) comprising a dragon and a pheonix amid clouds, and surrounding a double hsi (wedded joy) character. The wooden lid is lacquered and painted.

Object details

Categories
Object type
Parts
This object consists of 3 parts.

  • Wedding Hat
  • Box
  • Lid
Materials and techniques
Silk satin hat with seal fur, decorated with gold thread, semi-precious stones and kingfisher feathers. Wood storage box, lacquered and painted, padded silk
Brief description
Wedding hat, highly decorated red silk satin with seal fur brim, lidded storage box of red and gilt lacquer, China, Qing dynasty, 19th century
Physical description
FE.145-1975: A red satin wedding hat, with black seal fur brim. The red satin crown is ornamented with a trellis of interlocking circles in eight segments, the framework covered with kingfisher feathers. These panels are further ornamented with decorative moths composed of coral bodies, bright green jade wings, and seed pearls on the end of coiled wire antennae; and a variety of floral motifs composed of jade, glass, coral, seed pearls and kingfisher feathers. The hat is surmounted by a coiled coral bead topknot, with swastika emblems defined in seed pearls and kingfisher feathers. Two long red satin streamers are attached to the back of the hat, in the form of a queue, and are embroidered in fine green silk cord, gilt thread, seed pearls and coral beads with a design of stems of leaves and double gourds; each of the latter with the characters 'ta chi' - 'great good fortune' defined in coral beads. The streamers are finished with multi-coloured silk tassels.
FE.145&B-1975: The oval box, with original padded silk lining, is painted on the outside on a red lacquer ground with a design, in gilt, of three medallions (two on the sides of the box and one on the lid) comprising a dragon and a pheonix amid clouds, and surrounding a double hsi (wedded joy) character. The wooden lid is lacquered and painted.
Dimensions
  • Fe.145 1975 height: 17cm
  • Fe.145 1975 width: 22cm
  • Fe.145 a& b 1975 height: 28cm
Style
Object history
From Sotheby’s sale of English and Continental Furniture, Rugs and Carpets, Textiles, Costume etc. Friday, August 1st 1975, lot 63 I

Purchased. Registered File number 1975/2130.
Subjects depicted
Bibliographic reference
Verity Wilson, Chinese Dress, London: V&A Publications, 1986, t page 82, fig 75
Collection
Accession number
FE.145 to B-1975

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Record createdOctober 31, 2002
Record URL
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