Hat Item Number: Edz901 from the MOA: University of British Columbia
Description
A flat hat of straw in a circular twill weave of natural colour and varnished on the upper surface. Hat is disc shaped with a round hole in the centre, and finished with a bias band of blue cloth with diametrically opposed cloth loops. Outer circumference is finished with a double rim of split bamboo, affixed to the under surface of the hat with rattan. Two pieces of heavy blue cotton cloth, 15.5 cm. wide, machine stitched into fine pleats and joined with two red and two green strips of fine stitching.
History Of Use
Worn while working outdoors to protect wearer from sun and dust; said to be very cool. Hakka women in this region commonly do heavy agricultural and labouring work. Often considered an identifying feature of Hakka women of the region (collector).
Cultural Context
Worn by Hakka women, sometimes by Cantonese women.
Narrative
This hat was new when collected in Shatin market, Hong Kong, in 1976. Hakka people are one of the two original land-dwelling groups that settled the area that became the New Territories of Hong Kong. Their spoken language, and some customs, differed from those of the other original group, the Cantonese or Punti. The Cantonese arrived first and settled on the best rice-growing lands, while the Hakka began to arrive after the late 17th century and settled the more hilly lands.
Item History
- Made in Shatin, Hong Kong, China before 1976
- Collected during 1976
- Owned by Elizabeth L. Johnson before September 2, 1976
- Received from Elizabeth L. Johnson (Donor) on September 2, 1976
What
- Name
- Hat
- Identification Number
- Edz901
- Type of Item
- hat
- Material
- tung oil lacquer, synthetic fibre, cotton fibre, rattan, bamboo grass and grass
- Manufacturing Technique
- split, machine stitched, machine woven and woven
- Overall
- height 3.5 cm, diameter 42.5 cm
Who
- Culture
- Chinese: Hakka
- Previous Owner
- Elizabeth L. Johnson
- Received from
- Elizabeth L. Johnson (Donor)
Where
- Holding Institution
- MOA: University of British Columbia
- Made in
- Shatin, Hong Kong, China
When
- Creation Date
- before 1976
- Collection Date
- during 1976
- Ownership Date
- before September 2, 1976
- Acquisition Date
- on September 2, 1976
Other
- Item Classes
- textiles
- Condition
- good
- Accession Number
- 0328/0002