Title
Hat
Year/Period
Late 19th century
Region
Iran
Material
Technique
Dimension
Object size: H12 x W19 cm x 58.0cm
Accession No.
1999-02773

This pelt and domed hat probably belonged to a Sufi, also known as darwish in Persian (from which we get the English term ‘dervish’). The darwish would dress differently from the rest of society, wearing woollen hats and carrying kashkul (begging bowls), made of metal or coconut shells. The Sufi (mystic), in his ‘Path’, must undertake voluntary poverty and asceticism. Poverty (faqr) should be more of a spiritual nature (absence of desire for material wealth) than actual physical poverty. Many Sufis who pursued this concept, did renounce their worldly belongings.