Physical description
Han Chinese woman's coat. Informal wear. Front fastening coat (three black silk loop and knot buttons), long and wide sleeves, straight folded-back cuffs. Slit at sides. Blue silk plain weave lining. Pink silk satin ground embroidered with multi coloured floss silks in satin and Pekin knot stitch. The main body is embroidered with large butterflies, bats and scattered design of flowers ( peonies, orchid, magnolia, prunus). The butterflies which are embroidered in Pekin knot stitch are also outlined with white twisted thread in couched work. The sleeve bands are of blue silk satin embroidered in coloured silk with flowers, vases etc. and applied with a narrow yellow ground figured ribbon. The main part of the embroidery is located on the back side of the sleeves. Neck, cuffs, hem and side slits are trimmed with decorative borders made of a narrow black satin bias-cut band, a wider black silk band embroidered in shades of blue and white in satin stitches, and gold threads in couched work and an applied blue ground ribbon.
Place of Origin
China (made)
Date
2nd half of the 19th century (made)
Artist/maker
Unknown
Materials and Techniques
Silk satin ground embroidered with coloured floss silks in satin and Pekin knot stitches
Dimensions
Height: 113.0 cm, Width: 140.0 cm
Object history note
The original owner purchased the robe in Beijing in 1957. She was told at the time that no objects over 80 years old could leave China, and if this was the case, the robe could not be earlier than 1877.
Registered File number 1982/444.
Descriptive line
Woman's coat, silk satin ground embroidered with coloured floss silks in satin and Pekin knot stitches, China, Qing dynasty, 2nd half of the 19th century.
Materials
Silk (textile); Floss silk; Gold thread
Techniques
Satin weave; Embroidered
Subjects depicted
Floral patterns; Bats (animals); Butterflies
Categories
Textiles; Women's clothes; Day wear; Informal wear; Embroidery
Collection
East Asia Collection