See more objects with the tag ornament, floral, women's fashion accessories, organic, abstraction, personal adornment, fruit, adornment, traditional, ornamental, feathers, brightly colored, leaves, accessories, headcovering, foliate, jewelry, petals, lacquer .

See more objects with the color cadetblue darkslategrey dimgrey lightslategrey or see all the colors for this object.

Object Timeline

1910

  • Work on this object ended.

1939

  • We acquired this object.

2012

2014

2015

2025

  • You found it!

Hair Ornament (China)

This is a Hair ornament. It is dated ca. 1900 and we acquired it in 1939. Its medium is kingfisher feathers, lacquer, silk-covered wire. It is a part of the Product Design and Decorative Arts department.

The vivid iridescent blue of this headdress is the natural color of feathers from the kingfisher bird, native to parts of China and other Asian locations. Kingfisher feathers were used for objects of personal adornment because of their dazzling visual appeal. Associated with affluence and status, finely crafted ornaments such as this one were popular among high ranking government officials and weatlhy patrons.

This object was donated by William Dangaix Allen. It is credited Gift of William Dangaix Allen.

  • Buckle (France)
  • gold, opals, pearls, garnets.
  • Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Maxime Hermanos.
  • 1967-88-3
  •
  • Firebird Figurine
  • molded, enameled porcelain.
  • The Henry and Ludmilla Shapiro Collection; Partial gift and partial purchase....
  • 1989-41-184
  •
  • Birdcage (China)
  • lacquered wood with inlaid bone,ivory, and ebony (base); carved and cut....
  • Gift of Thomas F. Ryan.
  • 1916-26-1-a/jj

Our curators have highlighted 11 objects that are related to this one. Here are three of them, selected at random:

  • Stick Pin (France)
  • fresh-water pearl, gold, enamel, diamonds.
  • Gift from the Thomas W. Evans Collection from University of Pennsylvania....
  • 1983-69-9
  •
  • Necklace (Norway)
  • steel, gold, silver, mother-of-pearl.
  • Museum purchase from Decorative Arts Association Acquisition Funds and....
  • 1984-83-1

Its dimensions are

H x W x D: 18.4 x 6 x 0.5 cm (7 1/4 x 2 3/8 x 3/16 in.)

Cite this object as

Hair Ornament (China); kingfisher feathers, lacquer, silk-covered wire; H x W x D: 18.4 x 6 x 0.5 cm (7 1/4 x 2 3/8 x 3/16 in.); Gift of William Dangaix Allen; 1939-73-11

This object was previously on display as a part of the exhibition Making Design.

There are restrictions for re-using this image. For more information, visit the Smithsonian’s Terms of Use page.

For higher resolution or commercial use contact ArtResource.

If you would like to cite this object in a Wikipedia article please use the following template:

<ref name=CH>{{cite web |url=https://www-6.collection.cooperhewitt.org/objects/18557349/ |title=Hair Ornament (China) |author=Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum |accessdate=19 March 2025 |publisher=Smithsonian Institution}}</ref>