Hat 1930 - 1940

This hat, from who-knows-when and made by who-knows-who, is a mystery object, made of fabric, thread and tiny shells, but also made of intention. I love the way it seems put together, patched, and pieced, with an overall shape that has a strange beauty. The creamy upper part seems plain, but closer up you can see the subtle variations in tone and texture. And then there's that lower section, a riot of red and pattern, and this long, trailing panel, that pulls the eye down, down, down. It’s a lovely, slow reveal. I think of artists like Ree Morton, who reveled in the beauty of the handmade, and embraced a certain awkwardness. Both explore the ways we adorn ourselves and our lives, seeking to bring beauty and meaning into the everyday, finding value in the humble and overlooked. This hat is not precious, but it is valuable.