hat; religious/ritual equipment BM-As1894-0310.2

Period:Unknown Production date:1894 (circa)
Materials:silk, silver, gold,
Technique:damask, satin, embroidered, printed, plain weave,
Subjects:buddhism
Dimensions:Diameter: 36 centimetres Height: 19 centimetres Length: 52 centimetres (tassels)

Description:
A brocaded silk hat; worn by Grand Lama. Upturned brim covering crown with flat top. Crown made of overlapping cream damask silk cloth with cloud motifs. Pointed silver dorje, vajra, ‘finial’ mid top. Brim (padded with cardboard?) made from brown satin silk cloth; finely embroidered with large floral motifs, worked in polychrome silk theads. Centre front has large ‘visvavajra’ [Sanskrit] / ‘dorje’ [Tibetan] motif, the crossed thunderbolt motif, worked in couched gold metal-wrapped thread. Lined with floral printed cloth with red tabby cotton ‘ground’. Brim lined with same material, much faded. Two red/orange (outer) and yellow (inner) damask silk cloth ‘streamers’ hang from centre back. Hat fastened with red ties (tabby cotton and damask silk cloths).
IMG


Comments:British and Medieval Dept. Register, v.7; Ethno. Temporary Register,1861-1921. No Ethno. registration Slip.From B&M Register “the Grand Lama of Bhotan’s hat, Dugpa sect”. Unclear whether collected in Tibet or Bhutan. ‘Dugpa’ See: http://tibet.prm.ox.ac.uk/