A Chinese Finely Woven Grass Fibre and Red Silk Thread Imperial Manchu Court Officials Hat (1700 to 1800 China)

32.00cm ( 12.60 inches)

For the first 100 years after the Manchurian Chinese conquest, official court robes and ornaments were relatively unregulated in terms of design and use. Detailed regulations were published in 1759 in the ‘Illustrated Compendium of Qing Rituals’ in which the Emperor Qianlong finalised court dress codes.
Ceremonial hats were strictly classified for use by the different members of the Imperial court. The Emperors ceremonial hat differed from that of the Princes and Officials in having 12 first grade freshwater pearls, three second grade and many smaller pearls, together with a number of golden dragons decorating it.
An 18th century (1760-80) Chinese export glass picture in Stockholm’s Nordiska Museet interestingly shows a Chinese woman and man in official Manchu court costume, and the man is wearing a very similar hat to this example.

A Chinese Finely Woven Grass Fibre and Red Silk Thread Imperial Manchu Court
Officials Hat, with gilt bronze finial contained in its original blue linen covered paper box
Qianlong period 1736 – 95

Size: 32cm dia. – 12½ ins dia.