Miao Silver Ceremonial Hat

A crown with a crowd on it.

This Miao silver ceremonial hat comes from Southeastern Guizhou Province, China, and dates to the early to mid 20th century. It is repousse silver with twisted wire cones and dangles, and the figurative work is extensive. Miao women and girls wear silver headdresses like this at festivals and weddings, where silver shows family standing and is believed to ward off harm. Panels of figures, one riding an animal, circle the band, topped by a ring of small figures and wire-wound cones. Long chains fall from the sides to shaped pendants hung with blades. Six and a quarter inches high and nine in diameter.

Nobody wearing this has ever slipped out early.