Hat

Topi

Note: The following text is taken from a 19th-century collection catalog and, in its language and perspective, partially reflects colonial thought patterns. We present the text in its original version to make the collection's history transparent and promote a critical examination of the colonial legacy. Certain terms and formulations may be perceived as problematic today. A 2009 research project concluded that most descriptions are factually correct and still usable; only a few details were found to be inaccurate or incorrect. The results of this project were published in the following collection catalog: https://khm-wmw-tm-library.on.worldcat.org/oclc/1457155265

"322-324. Hats - "Topi".
Again woven from split bamboo, flat and cylindrical, painted on the outside with oil paint and lacquer. One is painted green with yellow figures, the other very finely painted brown and decorated with gold designs, the third, finally, is very finely painted yellow, red, blue and brown in different figures. Such hats are not only worn by the common man on Java, but also used by the native coachmen who serve the Europeans. This form of hat is actually the coachman's hat in all parts of Java where there are Europeans. In the way in which the lacquer and painting is done, of course, there are a great many variations. The native hat makers develop a really amazing fantasy when it comes to the manufacture and especially to the colorful decorations. There are a large number of forms which are very differently lacquered and painted, whereby the gold paint that the natives buy from the Chinese plays the main role."