780 Red Dao Traditional Boys Cap with Cowrie Shells

#780 Red Yao boy’s cotton cap. According to Red Dao (Iu Mien) tradition, a mother makes a hat for each of her children. Decorated with tassels, old coins, beads and shells, these hats are believed to keep the evil spirits away by disguising the child's head as a flower. This one has triangle-shaped metal decorations as well as cowrie shells, a Vietnamese coin, and tassels and a chin strap of traditional Yao black and white ceramic beads; Lao Cai Province, Vietnam;  c 1980’s; 17” circumference