DescriptionChinese antique ‘wushamao’ official’s hat made of black velvet and lacquer. The wushamao is low in the front and high in the back with two arching wings on the left and right. The wings are made with pierced filagree motifs and lacquered black.This style of hat was designed by the founder of the Song Dynasty, Emperor Taizu. During this time, the wings of the hat were quite long, extending out almost a meter on either side. It was the emperors’s intention to keep his officials far enough apart that they could not whisper to each other during assemblies. Over time, these wings became shorter and more stylized.Age: Early 20th centuryDimensions: 7 1/4″ high x 24 1/2″ wide
