Chinese Hat Insignia

These three hat insignias or knobs are in immaculate condition. Each comprises a gilded metal base decorated with applied gilded blossoms surmounted by a Peking glass sphere topped by a disk of further gilded blossoms.

Hat knobs were introduced in 1727. They were worn on hats by China’s Imperial family, nobles and officials. Officials were able to identify the rank of one another by their costume and the colour of their hat knobs. There were nine official ranks in total.

The knobs here represent the sixth (white), third (blue) and second (pink) ranks.

See Rutherford, J., ‘Celestial Silks: Chinese Religious and Court Textiles’,

July-August 2004.