Tibet. An elaborate crescent shaped yellow pile-woven hat denoting monks of the Gelugpa sect (and hence are often referred to as the 'yellow hat' sect) and is worn during religious ceremonies. The Gelugpa sect emerged in Tibet in the 15th century to become the pre-eminent Buddhist school in both Mongolia and Tibet and remains dominate to this day. The Dalai Lama, who holds the highest position in the Gelugpa sect, is considered its spiritual leader. The hat is woven with a thick woolen pile and has cotton warp and wool weft and dyed with a natural mustard-yellow dye. Size with fringe 0.35m x 0.18m x 0.55m overall length (13.75” x 7” x 21.75”) and from the first half of the 1900's. Although not 'rare' per se, items of this nature are not often seen on the market.