Jingxio Yao headdress of stiffened cotton over a rattan frame with an affixed embroidered cotton head cloth culminates in a beak-like forward protrusion with one large red cotton pompom at the tip and two more on either side of the base. A decorated bone comb with strings of glass beads and silk and cotton tassels is topped by another large red cotton pompom. It was worn in the hair behind the hat so that the comb pompom appears to be part of the hat, and embellished with glass beads, south China, circa 1900. Size: 8.5'' x 7'' x 11'' (22 x 18 x 28 cm). Reference: Chinese National Costume Culture, p. 154; Jess G. Pourret, THE YAO The Mien and Mun Yao in China, Vietnam, Laos and Thailand, pp. 128-130; The Yao Nationality, pp. 99, 107 and 111. Provenance: Lee and Vichai Chinalai collection.