Descriptions

A black cylindrical shaped hat with a red circular shaped cap placed on the top. The cap is trimmed with a row of jobs’ tears. White ceramic buttons form a cross in the centre of the cap. The object was re-accessioned and therefore information about the donor is unavailable.

The use of white ceramic buttons is interesting as this is a tradition of the Lisu people of the Putao area, Kachin State. There is little evidence for this type of hat in Burma. Most headwear normally consists of a turban or a headdress. However, one similar type of hat was photographed by James Henry Green and is in the collection of Brighton Museum. The photograph (A1052) pictures a Lisu family with a woman wearing a hat of a similar shape and style. This is the only documentary evidence that has been found so far of this type of hat. Further research may provide more of an insight into its origin and use.

This object is on display at RAMM in the World Cultures gallery.