Untitled

Unknown

20th century · Satin, velvet, glass, jade · Asian Art

Officials' hat feathers could include one, two, or three peacock-feather eyes; this example has two. The emperor bestowed the feathers on officials for meritorious service, and the greater the number of eyes, the higher the honor. Near the end of the dynasty, however, such hat feathers were widely available in shops.

Artist

Unknown

Date

20th century

Medium

Satin, velvet, glass, jade

Culture

China

Department

Asian Art

Credit line

Anonymous Gift, 1949