Red 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 19th-century hat box is beautifully finished with red lacquered hide and would have belonged to an individual of rank and nobility. Secured by full moon brass lock plates, the box opens with two separate compartments and was likely designed to store both a conical summer hat and a round winter cap. With its sculptural shape and bright color, this hat box is a fantastic collector's item and a statement addition to the home.