metal, textile, sculpture
metal
sculpture
textile
folk art
folk-art
sculpture
Dimensions: 29 7/8 × 9 1/4 × 6 1/2 in. (75.88 × 23.5 × 16.51 cm) (including back "tail")
Copyright: Public Domain
This hat, made with silver, beads, and fabric, is of unknown origin. It displays the cultural and social life of its time, and its creators. The hat is covered with silver ornaments and the colors and shapes could denote tribal or religious affiliation. The coins and metalwork may have served as portable wealth and social signaling. Examining the materials can offer insight into trade routes, and craft traditions. The hat's condition and any signs of wear and repair might suggest its history of use. The designs and motifs are key, they likely reflect cultural beliefs and local aesthetics. This hat prompts us to consider the politics of imagery, asking what social conditions shape its creation. Further research into similar hats, combined with anthropological and historical sources, could reveal more about the cultural meanings embedded in this striking piece. The hat serves as a reminder that art and material culture are deeply entwined with social and institutional contexts.
Comments
This hat was made by people of the Turkmen cultural group of Central Asia in the later nineteenth or early twentieth century. It would have been worn by elite women as part of a traditional wedding ensemble. The hat combines many of the distinctive materials and techniques that are representative of the culture. The cut tassels, stamped metal plates, and use of carnelian are typical of Turkmen jewelry practices. It also integrates embroidered panels that are typical of the needlework traditions for which the culture is well known.
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