Wedding headdress, 19th century. Silk, kingfisher feathers, copper alloy, turquoise, glass and ceramic; height: 7 in, 17.78 cm; overall height: 8.5 in, 21.59 cm; diameter: 6.5 in, 16.51 cm.Neusteter Textile Collection: Gift of Mrs. J. Churchill Owen, 1973.23 © Denver Art Museum

Using bright blue kingfisher feathers for ornamentation has a long history in China. At first these costly products were only for the elite, but by the 1800s it was common for a bride to wear a headdress fashioned with kingfisher feathers. The precious stone "jewels," however, were replaced by ceramic, glass, or paste versions. Floral ornaments mingled with bats, symbols of blessings, and golden wish-granting clouds cover the black silk lattice under bonnet of this wedding headdress. Characters for double happiness appear at the crown; in the center of each strand of the beaded veil is an auspicious symbol.