Nasij Hat Cover with Phoenix and Floral Patterns Front

This is a Yuan-dynasty (1271-1368 AD) female hat cover made of Nasij, a kind of gold-wefted brocade, featuring patterns of phoenix among flowers. It has a firm texture and a soft feel. Patterns created by gold threads stand out on the tan ground. While most of the patterns are well-preserved, some parts are missing. The pair of golden phoenix, mythological auspicious birds in Chinese culture, is the highlight of this item. Accompanied by the smaller male phoenix standing still on the flowering branch, the female, which is known for beautiful dancing, is flying with stretched wings, posing a pleasant contrast to the former. As for details, a combination of S-shaped patterns based on intertwined leaves and long arrow-like shapes with saw-toothed edges was applied for the female phoenix’s tail feathers. These ingeniously-designed motifs, with well-arranged elements and the golden color, gives a sense of solemnity and grandeur to the artwork.