Hat Item Number: 3509/2 from the MOA: University of British Columbia
Wide brimmed, dome-shaped hat woven from palm leaves. Hat frame formed with an inner rod. Four groupings of red and black tassels secured at intervals along bottom edge, with a red zigzag stitched in between. Star-shaped medallion with fringe on top centre of hat. Design consists of concentric circles and stars; done in red, yellow, black, orange, green and white beads. Extending outward, to the edges, are black, red, yellow and green beaded lines; dividing the hat into triangle-shaped sections. Matching line borders upper section of hat, before it slopes towards the brim. Band of diamonds, done in identical colours, above border; points are orange and white. Red painted decorations across interior of hat, matching beaded line pattern on surface. Hat band attached to interior, woven from rattan(?) strips and lined with patterned cloth. White beaded chin strap, with red tassels, tied to either side. Inscription painted along interior rim.
Collected in Sarawak Malaysia by Grace Chatter, the mother of Ross Lea's wife, Jacqollyne. Grace (nee Soh) was born in Malaysia at the beginning of the last century, and was the daughter of a wealthy gold miner in Sarawak. She married a man from the British consulate, and brought the collection with her when she moved to Canada in her senior years.