Hat

Vegetable fibre cone-shaped hat with a wide brim and an adjustable seam inside. It is decorated with painted motifs that form two schematic faces on opposite sides of the hat in red, black and blue. This conical shape is typical of some cultures on the northwestern coast of North America and the Arctic. This model probably belongs to the Chugach culture. The vegetable fibre fabric is very close-woven so that the piece would isolate its bearer from water during the canoe trips and it would be perfect for protection against rain in this area of high precipitation. The presence of decorative elements painted covering almost the whole hat allows us to think it had a ceremonial purpose or that it could belong to a high-ranking person in the community. The animals represented usually allude to the protectors of its owner’s lineage. This piece is part of the group of works collected in the last third of the 18th century during the different Spanish scientific expeditions to the area.