Vintage, Now Rare, Ceremonial Conical Coolie Sun Hat, Hand Beaded Minute Colorful Mosaic Motifs, Orchid, Leaves & Lotus Flowers, Nassa Shells: 161A4, Collected in Sumatra, 1980’s but Older. Bride Price, Currency. 21” Tall Display Stand Included.

Rare Old Tribal Wedding Ceremonial Hand Beaded & Colorful Conical Coolie Hat, which once belonged to Sumatra royalty, Indonesia.

Collected in the 1980’s on the premises, but older.

WE ARE INCLUDING, FREE WITH THIS PURCHASE, A CUSTOM MADE HAT STAND (WITH AN HALF COCONUT HEAD PIECE TO REST THE COOLIE CONE ON). STAND IS 20 1/2" HIGH WITH A SQUARE BASE 6" X  6" AND THE COCONUT HALF HAS A 4 1/2" DIAMETER. IT USUALLY RETAILS FOR $40.00 & IS SEEN HERE ON PHOTO 4. 

EXTREMELY TIME CONSUMING TO CREATE.

Museum Quality. Perfect shape.

This Traditional Sumatran Wedding Coolie Sun Hat was collected on the premises in Sumatra, and was once used by well-to-do and aristocratic families during festive celebrations and dressed-up occasions.

We are showing detailed pictures of this lovely (entirely beaded by hand with a needle) hat, adorned with a tapestry of thousands of minute millimeters’ and colorful antique beads. Hand stitched within a coolie hat frame to create a mosaic of traditional designs on the outside (with the help of a spider web network of strings, as one is seen being made on some the photos), and tightly woven on the inside.

Colors are: blues, turquoise, black, red and white.

Size is 15 1/2" diameter by 10 1/2" from rim to top of conical point.

I have seen a few in the past selling  for $900.00 and up, and the bead panels alone for 800.00 and up on the internet.

ITEM 161A4

The pattern here displays leaves, sacred lotus and orchid flowers, and geometric shapes, cone is topped with a large blue bloom. Additional adornments of small Nassa shell borders, and beaded fringes all around the rim, complete this marvelous and unusual collectible.

It took up to 6 months to create, and now has become a rare art because the fashion has been abandoned, since they took so long to create.

 In the past, a fine Kelabit lady’s hat was worth a couple of Asian water buffaloes.  A bead hat like this one, made of old and minuscule beads, hats which are no longer worn and are becoming rare, could now fetch even more if anyone was prepared to sell it.

Beads were used, not only in necklaces and bracelets, but in intense beadwork to create fine decorations. Orang Ulu baby carriers, a reed basket open on one side, used by women to carry their young infants, were embellished with such fine beadwork, with a wild boar or leopard tooth finish. Large beads and hawk’s bells were attached to the upper rim of the carrier and served to soothe the toddler with their tinkling, in addition to indicating status. The Orang Ulu believed that rank and its associated symbolism were serious considerations.

Beads have been used since time immemorial, when also teeth, bones, shells and stones were perforated and worn as ornaments.  Good beads were not only valuable, they also revealed status. For example, beads were tokens of rank and value, and could attest to a future daughter-in-law’s eligibility to marry into the family.

All our collector and rare items come with pages and pages of research about provenance, and with history of the tribes and photos as well, depending on item and whenever possible. When shipping internationally, we group ship multiple purchases to save you money, and find the best rates available. If you have any questions or want to see research conducted on this piece and photos of tribes, let us know.