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Hat Case (Gatjip)

Asian Art

Throughout the reign of the Joseon dynasty, men of the upper classes were required to wear brimmed hats called gat any time they appeared in public. Initially the hats had very wide brims as in this example. In the mid-nineteenth century, however, as part of reforms designed to curb the excesses of the aristocracy, Daewongun (regent for the king from 1863 to 1873) banned large hats, replacing them with much smaller models. As a result, this example—and its storage box—is extremely rare. Even rarer is the hat’s red cloth covering, which distinguishes it as a type worn only by high-ranking officials when attending special ceremonies.
MEDIUM Horsehair, bamboo, paper, lacquer, metal
  • Place Made: Korea
  • DATES 18th–19th century
    DYNASTY Joseon Dynasty
    DIMENSIONS Case: 2 3/4 x 27 9/16 in. (7 x 70 cm) Lid: 2 3/4 x 28 1/8 in. (7 x 71.5 cm) Inner Part: 9 1/4 in. (23.5 cm)  (show scale)
    COLLECTIONS Asian Art
    ACCESSION NUMBER X1144.2
    CREDIT LINE Brooklyn Museum Collection
    MUSEUM LOCATION This item is not on view
    CAPTION Hat Case (Gatjip), 18th–19th century. Horsehair, bamboo, paper, lacquer, metal, Case: 2 3/4 x 27 9/16 in. (7 x 70 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Brooklyn Museum Collection, X1144.2. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: , X1144.2_PS11.jpg)
    IMAGE X1144.2_PS11.jpg.
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    RIGHTS STATEMENT Creative Commons-BY
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     <em>Hat Case (Gatjip)</em>, 18th–19th century. Horsehair, bamboo, paper, lacquer, metal, Case: 2 3/4 x 27 9/16 in. (7 x 70 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Brooklyn Museum Collection, X1144.2. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: , X1144.2_PS11.jpg)