Ceremonial Hat for Eating Bouillabaisse (Self-Portrait with Object)
Surrealist Assemblage / Wearable Sculpture and Photograph • Eileen Agar (British-Argentine, 1899–1991)
Style & Movement
British Surrealism
Medium & Technique
Mixed media assemblage (cork hat, seaweed, shells, coral, found objects) captured via gelatin silver print
Creation Period
1936
Dimensions & Format
Original hat: approx. 30 x 30 x 35 cm; Photograph: Various sizes, typically 25 x 20 cm (Portrait format)
Subject Description
The artist Eileen Agar wearing her famous 'Ceremonial Hat for Eating Bouillabaisse' while holding a framed cutout of a hand. The composition explores the surrealist fascination with the 'objet trouvé' (found object) and the merging of natural marine forms with fashion to create a totemic, ritualistic aesthetic.
Condition & Value Assessment
Condition Assessment
Very Good/Historical; the photograph shown appears as a high-quality monochrome reproduction; the original hat is a delicate organic assemblage.
Estimated Market Value
$5,000 - $12,000 (for a vintage photographic print signed by the artist)
Auction Estimate
$4,000 - $8,000 (for limited edition estate or vintage prints)
Provenance History
The original hat was created by the artist in 1936 and widely photographed. Many prints originated from the artist's estate or the London Gallery. Similar prints are held by the Tate and Victoria & Albert Museum.
Art Historical Significance
This is one of the most iconic images of the British Surrealist movement. It represents Agar's unique 'biomorphic' surrealism, emphasizing the connection between the subconscious and the natural world. It was famously worn by Agar at the International Surrealist Exhibition in London (1936).
Notable Features
The juxtaposition of the 'hand' object—a recurring motif in Surrealism representing agency and fate—with the marine-themed hat highlights the surrealists' interest in the 'uncanny' and the marvelous in the mundane.
Condition Issues
As a vintage photograph: potential silver mirroring, light foxing, or edge wear. As an object: the original hat is fragile due to the organic nature of the shells and dried seaweed.
Conservation Recommendations
For the photograph, use UV-filtering glass and acid-free archival mounting. Maintain stable humidity to prevent the emulsion from cracking or curling.
Collector Notes
Eileen agar