Hoedenspeld van Perzisch maskeradekostuum 1913

Here's a hat pin, likely made for a Persian masquerade costume, by an anonymous artist. I’m imagining someone hammering away at the metal, slowly coaxing the shape of the head into being, that long, curvy pin snaking out like a vine. I wonder what the artist was thinking when they made this? Was it part of a larger theatrical or ritualistic tradition? I imagine them working with simple tools, patiently shaping and refining the metal, and the piece evokes a sense of handmade charm. It's got that golden hue, a bit dulled with age, which speaks to a rich cultural history. It reminds me of folk art, or some outsider genius. This pin, it’s not just functional; it's like a tiny sculpture. And in a way, isn’t all art just a conversation across time? This little pin makes me feel connected to that tradition, this idea that we’re all just making things and sharing ideas, and it’s all beautifully messy and uncertain.