Robe
1850-1900 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This robe may have been made from various embroidered lengths intended to be tailored into a dress for an Empress, as the embroidery is quite intricate, making generous use of precious materials such as seed pearls and coral. The robe also bears the Twelve Imperial insignia, which was restricted for the exclusive use of the reigning emperor and his immediate family.
Although the dress materials were intended for an empress, it may not have finally been worn by an empress. Mismatched parts sewn into the robe suggest that it might have been sewn around the end of the Qing Dynasty, perhaps to be traded as an item of curiosity or exotic souvenir.
Although the dress materials were intended for an empress, it may not have finally been worn by an empress. Mismatched parts sewn into the robe suggest that it might have been sewn around the end of the Qing Dynasty, perhaps to be traded as an item of curiosity or exotic souvenir.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Satin weave silk; embroidery in coral beads, seed pearls, silk and metallic threads; lined with silk damask |
| Brief description | Festive robe for an empress (jifu), satin weave silk; embroidery in coral beads, seed pearls, silk and metallic threads, China, Qing dynasty, 1850-1900 |
| Physical description | Empress's festive robe of yellow silk embroidered with coloured silks, gold thread, seed pearls and coral-beads in satin, stem, long and short and split stitches with Pekin knots and couched work. Horse-shoe cuffs and the neck and opening facings are edged with gold braid with a swastika fret pattern. The robe is lined with blue silk damask, with the eight Buddhist symbols. The decoration consists of the usual nine five-clawed dragons, with further dragons on the additional sleeve bands embroidered in seed pearls and coral beads. The ground is filled with clouds, bats, double-xi (喜) characters (marriage symbol) embroidered in coral beads and the twelve imperial symbols. Waves, the eight precious things and standing water (li shui 立水) are embroidered around the hem. |
| Dimensions |
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| Style | |
| Object history | RF1967/1662 The robe may indeed never have been worn by a female member of the imperial family and it seems to be rather carelessly tailored. |
| Subject depicted | |
| Summary | This robe may have been made from various embroidered lengths intended to be tailored into a dress for an Empress, as the embroidery is quite intricate, making generous use of precious materials such as seed pearls and coral. The robe also bears the Twelve Imperial insignia, which was restricted for the exclusive use of the reigning emperor and his immediate family. Although the dress materials were intended for an empress, it may not have finally been worn by an empress. Mismatched parts sewn into the robe suggest that it might have been sewn around the end of the Qing Dynasty, perhaps to be traded as an item of curiosity or exotic souvenir. |
| Bibliographic references |
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | T.253-1967 |
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| Record created | December 15, 1999 |
| Record URL |
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