Rare Yao (Mien) priest's ritual hat of woven human hair, embellished with possibly later silk embroidery,northern Thailand/Laos/China, 18th/19th century. At a private ritual in northern Thailand, the Mien priest said even a small patch from an old human hair hat was important enough and necessary to sanctify a ceremony. Size: 26" x 11.25" (66 x 29 cm). Provenance: Lee and Vichai Chinalai collection.