Creative Commons License
Creative Commons License
Creative Commons License
Four-Cornered Hat
(Ancient Americas )
Images on ceramics of men bearing weapons and wearing four-cornered hats suggest that this style was worn by military men. Indeed, such well-preserved ancient hats have been discovered in male graves, and not those of women. The hat’s form and decoration might have communicated military abilities and even rank among soldiers. The four corners may reference the perked ears of fast and agile animals or possibly feather tufts of birds, which were highly valued in Andean culture. Notice the animated representation of birds on the hat itself.
This one is made from the soft hair of alpacas or llamas, with extra long tufts creating a thicker texture for the birds.
Provenance
Provenance (from the French provenir, 'to come from/forth') is the chronology of the ownership, custody, or location of a historical object. Learn more about provenance at the Walters.
Purchased by Georgia de Havenon, New York; given to Walters Art Museum, 2016.
Exhibitions
| 2018 | Crowning Glory: Art of the Americas. The Walters Art Museum, Baltimore. |
| 2012-2013 | Exploring Art of the Ancient Americas: The John Bourne Collection Gift. The Walters Art Museum, Baltimore; Frist Center for the Visual Arts, Nashville. |
Geographies
Peru, South Coast, Wari (Place of Origin)
Measurements
H with corners: 3 3/4 × W: 5 15/16 × D: 5 13/16 in. (9.5 × 15.1 × 14.8 cm); H without corner tops: 3 3/8 in. (8.5 cm)
Credit Line
Gift of Georgia and Michael de Havenon, 2016
Location in Museum
Not on view
Accession Number
In libraries, galleries, museums, and archives, an accession number is a unique identifier assigned to each object in the collection.
In libraries, galleries, museums, and archives, an accession number is a unique identifier assigned to each object in the collection.
2011.20.13