Child's hat of black silk, lined with purple cotton, with flaps on both sides and turquoise tassels. The brim is of black satin attached with four circular gold plates, each inscribed with a Chinese character. These spell out 'Chang ming fu gui', which translates as: long life and wealth. There is also a large gilt 'shou' character, meaning longevity, amalgamated with an image of 'shou xing', the God of Longevity. The crown is in four segments with scalloped edges, each embroidered with flowers and flying insects in multicoloured silk thread. The hat is probably for a girl, and would have been worn for special occasions, such as a birthday or Chinese New Year.
Donated by Mrs Elsie M Howells together with several Chinese costumes and dolls previously belonging to her aunt, who was a medical missionary in China for almost fifty years, from the late 19th century to the 1940s.
