Hat Box c. 19th century

This striking, anonymous hat box is made of lacquered wood and inlaid with mother-of-pearl. It's important to remember that this isn't just a decorative object. It’s a window into the world of its time. Without knowing the country or time in which it was made we can still consider the materials it is made out of: lacquer and mother-of-pearl. Where do these come from? Who has access to them? The very materials that make up this box speak of trade routes, social hierarchies, and artistic traditions. This box likely held a specific type of hat, reflecting the fashion and social customs of the time. To truly understand this object, we need to delve into the social history of dress, exploring how hats functioned as symbols of status and identity. Historians use a range of resources – from trade records to fashion plates – to understand the complex relationship between objects and the societies that produce them.