Headdress

Description

Woman's headdress known as fengguan (phoenix crown), in form of a high domed crown, the wire frame covered with dragons, phoenixes and other motifs made from blue kingfisher feathers, with inscriptions formed by kingfisher feathers on 11 cartouches (one lost): China, Qing dynasty, late 19th century

Museum reference

A.1969.399

Collection

World Culture

Object name

Headdress

Production information

China, East Asia

Date

Late 19th century

Materials

Wire, Kingfisher feather

Physical description

Wire frame covered with dragon and other motifs made from blue kingfisher feathers

Exhibitions

• Exploring East Asia (08 Feb 2019)
  National Museum of Scotland

• Inspired by Nature (29 Jul 2011 - 2018)
  National Museum of Scotland

• Treasured: Wonderful Things, Amazing Stories (14 Nov 2008 - 01 Jan 2011)
  National Museum of Scotland

References

Cao, Q. (2019) ‘By the Mandate of Heaven: A Kingfisher Headdress in the National Museum of Scotland’, Orientations, Vol. 50, March/April issue, pp. 74-81.