Hoed van naturel stro met rode, zwartgenopte zijde, behorend bij pop "LILLY" c. 1910

This straw hat with red, black-dotted silk, belongs to the doll "Lilly" and was made by P. Titjen-Baas. The hat, an emblem of identity, protects and adorns, yet here, it's rendered miniature, for a doll—a simulacrum of life. The red ribbon, dotted with black, is a striking contrast against the straw, evoking notions of vitality tempered by foreboding. The hat's form reminds us of ancient sun hats, guardians against the solar deity's harsh gaze, echoed in Renaissance portraits of noblewomen, where hats signified status and modesty. Yet, the doll’s hat subverts this, becoming a vessel of play, a child's imitation of adult life. The red and black combination, a motif recurring across epochs from ritualistic garments to the attire of tragic figures, hints at the complex dance of life and death. It engages our collective memory, stirring subconscious associations with passion and mourning, making us reflect on the cyclical nature of symbolism.