Priest's Hat

Textiles

Late 19th century, Meiji period (1868–1912)

Japan

Priest’s hats in a form similar to this resplendent example from the late 19th century are still worn today. The pattern of the fabric consists of two slightly different peony blossoms framed within scrolling vines and leaves. The use of deluxe kinran fabric, consisting of gilt-paper strips and silk, and the incorporation of a lining of purple, a color used only by high-ranking Buddhist officials, suggest that this hat belonged to a priest of high rank.

Status: Currently Off View
Department: Textiles

Title: Priest's Hat
Place: Japan (Object made in)
Date Dates are not always precisely known, but the Art Institute strives to present this information as consistently and legibly as possible. Dates may be represented as a range that spans decades, centuries, dynasties, or periods and may include qualifiers such as c. (circa) or BCE.: Made 1890–1900
Medium: Silk and gilt-paper strip; plain weave with secondary binding warps and supplementary patterning wefts
Dimensions: 58.7 × 28.6 cm (23 1/8 × 11 1/4 in.); Repeat Warp: 10.2 × 7 cm (4 × 2 3/4 in.)
Credit Line: Gift of Ralph E. Hays in memory of Mary Van Artsdalen Hays
Reference Number: 2004.1042
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