Black Lacquer Double Hat Box

No self-respecting man in Qing-dynasty China would leave the house without some kind of hat. In fact, headgear was so central to social status that even the containers used to store one's hat were beautifully constructed.

This tall, pointed hat box dates to the mid-19th century and would have belonged to an individual of rank and nobility. A combination of forms, the box has an elongated design meant to accommodate both a conical summer hat and a round winter cap. The unusual box has a sculptural, graphic shape and is minimally decorated with a layer of lacquered hide. With its intriguing form and storied history, this box makes for a fantastic collector's item and a statement addition to the home.