231 - Two guanmao, Manchu officials’ winter hats, in their carrying cases, late 19th century

Two guanmao, Manchu officials’ winter hats, in their carrying cases, late 19th century With upturned brims, one is lined with damask silk decorated with bamboo and plum blossoms, while the other is made of black velvet. The crown is adorned with a fringe of red silk threads (hóngyīng) radiating from the top, where a copper alloy button is attached, indicating the 9th rank in the mandarin hierarchy. They are stored in a cylindrical leather carrying case with a conical lid. The interior has two tiers. Height: 45 cm; diameter: 36 cm Signs of wear and missing parts. On the inside of the lid is a label printed in black on paper, bearing the name of the Dafengtai company — 大豐泰, an address at the Linqing (Shandong) horse market, a reference to the manufacture of leather chests and boxes, and a guarantee of quality for customers.