Chinese Orange Silk Child’s Tiger-Head Wind Cap with Tail, Charm Figures & Ribbon Flowers

Description

Overview

This is a Chinese child’s tiger-head wind cap, known as fengmao, a hooded tiger hat with a neck cape. Hats like this were traditionally worn by young children to keep out the cold and, through the fierce tiger face, to ward off evil spirits and illness. It is made in the Han Chinese folk tradition and is likely early-to-mid 20th century. It comes from the Craft World Tours Collection, assembled over four decades by Tom and Sherry Wilson.

Design & Craftsmanship

Function & Form: A child-sized hood in saffron-orange silk satin, with a sculpted tiger face at the front, a curled padded tail at the back and navy ties with red tassels. It measures about 14″ x 9″ laid flat and weighs 5 oz.

Artistry & Ornamentation:

• Large ribbed eyes of coiled metallic-wrapped thread, now tarnished dark, around black cloth centers, with spiky black brows.
• A padded cone nose wrapped in bands of multicolor thread, with a knotted motif at the tip.
• Red puffball cheeks with purple tufts, and a red mouth set with small metal discs.
• Small stuffed and wrapped charm figures and embroidered leaves dangle around the lower face.
• Silk ribbon flowers in pink and cream on the crown.
• The edges are bordered in woven geometric-pattern ribbon on a black ground, with purple binding.
• Barrel tassels are wrapped in gold and black thread, and the tail ends in a beaded tassel.

Structural Base: Lined in indigo-dyed cotton with visible hand stitching. There are no maker’s marks.

Condition Report

Surface Condition:

• Small snags, pulls, dust and light spotting on the orange satin.
• Flattened, frayed and faded ribbon flowers.
• Thinning tassels, with threadbare spots and loose fibers on some charm figures.
• The metallic eye coils are tarnished.
• The satin’s color remains strong.

Structural Integrity: The face, charms, tail, ties and lining appear intact and stable. This item is sold “as-is” with all associated patina and wear inherent to its age and history as part of the Craft World Tours Collection.