Early 20th C. Japanese Textile Fireman's Hat w/ Lining

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Ancient | Asian | Ethnographic

By Artemis Gallery

May 9, 2019

Set Reminder 2019-05-09 10:00:00 2019-05-09 10:00:00 America/New_York Bidsquare Bidsquare : Ancient | Asian | Ethnographic https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/artemis-gallery/ancient-asian-ethnographic-4110
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• Lot Description
  East Asia, Japan, ca. early 20th Century CE. A heavy, multi-layered indigo blue cotton (sashiko) fire hat covered with embroidered stitches, a lining comprised of a beautiful fabric adorned via paste-resist decoration (tsutsugaki) presenting grey raincloud and red lightning bolt motifs, as well as cloth ties made from the same fabric. The hat is reversible, and the decorated side could be worn outward in parades and ceremonies. This hat was used by a Japanese firefighter for protection, designed to expose only the eyes and protect the top of the head, face, and upper chest. Hats like this, along with jackets (hanten), sock-like footwear, gloves, and pants were soaked in water prior to a firefighting outing. The garments are oftentimes decorated with heroes, dragons, or other mythical beings associated with bravery and water. In this example, the lining and ties are decorated with raincloud and lightning bolt motifs. Size: 19.5" L x 9" in diameter (49.5 cm x 22.9 cm)
  
  According to the Metropolitan Museum of Art curatorial team, "Traditional Japanese houses were made of wood, bamboo, and paper, and in crowded cities like the capital Edo (present day Tokyo), the houses were built with little or no space in between which made them prone to fires. Over the centuries Edo was ravaged by a series of great and devastating fires. The citizens called the fires 'Edo no hana' or 'flowers of Edo,' most of which broke out during the dry winter season when people heated their homes with charcoal. Edo (1615–1868) and Meiji (1868–1912) period Japanese firefighters were equipped with heavy, multi-layer indigo-dyed cotton (sashiko) jackets (hanten), sock-like footwear, gloves, trousers, and hats, such as this work, for their protection." (https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/738459)
  
  Provenance: private Poos collection, Overland Park, Kansas, USA; purchased from private collection in 2017 - One of the largest privately held quilt and textile collections in the world, the Poos Collection has evolved over 50 years and through extensive travels to allow for original or point of source acquisition. The collection includes international textiles and garments with an emphasis on West African textiles such as adire, aso oke, kente, and ewe woven prestige cloths as well as East Asian textile works like this example.
  
  All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.
  
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  #145909

  Condition

  Some stitches joining trim/piping to the fabric have come undone. Two holes to the back panel. The loop for the button is torn. Normal wear commensurate with age and use.
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