Snow hat (yuki bōshi) made in Yamagata Prefecture, late 19th-early 20th century
Unknown Japaneseexpand_more
Rice straw, cotton; indigo dyeexpand_more
The John R. Van Derlip Fund and the Mary Griggs Burke Endowment Fund established by the Mary Livingston Griggs and Mary Griggs Burke Foundation; purchase from the Thomas Murray Collectionexpand_more 2019.20.47
Not on Viewexpand_more
Material: Rice straw (inawara)
Heavy snowfalls in winter are common in the northern part of Japan, where people needed additional protection, particularly farmers who worked outdoors. This snow hat (yuki bōshi, or yuki botchi in the regional dialect) was made of rice straw (inawara), a byproduct in rice cultivation, joined with cotton thread. Rice straw has a hollow structure, making it an excellent insulator as it wraps the wearer’s head in a layer of warmed air. Snow hats were traditionally made by men, not by trained, professional artisans. In this case, the manipulation of the materials demonstrates the artistry and skill of the maker, who employed straight stitch, tying, and braiding.
Details
- Title
- Snow hat (yuki bōshi) made in Yamagata Prefecture
- Role
- Maker
- Accession Number
- 2019.20.47
- Catalogue Raisonne
- Murray et al. 2018, pl. 39
- Curator Approved
This record has been reviewed by our curatorial staff but may be incomplete. These records are frequently revised and enhanced. If you notice a mistake or have additional information about this object, please email collectionsdata@artsmia.org.
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