Haida, Alaska
AmericanBasketry Hat, n.d.
Not on view
Spruce root and pigment
Dimensions6 5/8 × 14 1/2 in. (16.8 × 36.8 cm)
Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Richard Pohrt, 1985.98
Hats like this were generally worn on ceremonial occasions when family honors were displayed. Haida women excelled in basketry, making not only hats but also containers and mats. After the hat was woven male artists painted family crests on the surface in predominantly red and black paint.
The Haida are an indigenous culture of the Pacific Northwest Coast of North America. They continue to be very engaged in the production of highly stylized art objects.
