Fireman’s Hat

A fireman’s heavy cotton hat in the form of a helmet. The cotton is paste resist dyed and quilted in sashiko style. Sashiko means ” little stabs,” and it is a form of decorative reinforcement stitching.  It is traditionally used in points of wear, making the darned piece ultimately stronger and warmer while the linear cotton embroidery creates a geometric pattern reminiscent of waves or water. In the upper area of the hat, the cotton has a floral motif possibly a peony. The thick cotton helmet has flaps that go down around the neck to protect the wearer from the flames. There is also a woven flap opening for the eyes.

The fireman’s hat is mounted on a stand.