hat

Comments: Child's natiyo (headdress) from the Rabari culture. Rectangular garment constructed from 4.5‚Äù -square tip (top) piece sewn to 12.5‚Äù -square fabric.  16 circular shisha stitched mirrors frame central floral motif at tip.  Mirrors attached by blue, orange, red, green and cream colored long legged cross stitch. embroidery.   At 4 corners of tip white 4-hole buttons secure tassels composed of  4 cowrie shells and 2 gold beads.   5 shisha stitched mirrors in same colors frame brow at center front.
Overall construction created by rows of satin and chain stitch embroidery.  Border created by narrow strips of silk and embroidery.  11 floral motifs chain stitched in orange, blue, black, pink, green and cream frame border of headdress.    2- 9‚Äù lengths of mutli colored twisted threads secured at back panel.  Thread bead joins 2 ties. Tie ends are wrapped in gold, blue, red and green threads finished with a gold bead, tassel of white and navy blue glass beads and cowrie shells.
3 tassels of multicolored threads placed at  border and right and left cheek area.  Unlined interior shows reverse of all hand stitch work.

Bibliography List
This object has the following bibliographic references:

• Femenias, Blenda; Cort, Cynthia C.; Raducha Joan. Two Faces of South Asian Art. HATC & Elvehjem Museum of Art. Madison, Wisconsin , 1984.