1919 Chinese American Baby Bonnet
1919 Chinese American Baby Bonnet
- Description (Brief)
- Mrs. Lee made this "dog head" bonnet for her only son, Peter. Chinese mothers traditionally dressed their one year old children in such bonnets to protect them from evil spirits. According to lore, if evil forces met the child they would pass by, thinking it were an animal, and of no value. Fur lines the bonnet's "dog's ears" and the padded wool of the hat lined Peter's head.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- Object Name
- bonnet, baby
- Object Type
- Bonnet
- Boy
- Headwear
- date made
- 1919
- maker
- Lee Ng Shee
- place made
- United States
- worn
- United States: New York, Manhattan, Chinatown
- Physical Description
- silk (overall material)
- wool (overall material)
- fur (overall material)
- Measurements
- overall: 30 cm x 42 cm; 11 13/16 in x 16 17/32 in
- ID Number
- 1992.0620.07
- catalog number
- 1992.0620.07
- accession number
- 1992.0620
- Credit Line
- Gift of James Edgar Mead and Virginia Lee Mead
- subject
- Chinese American
- Immigration
- Immigrants
- See more items in
- Cultural and Community Life: Costume
- Cultures & Communities
- Clothing & Accessories
- Family & Social Life
- Chinese American
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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