Sleeve borders. Ivory colored silk ground with large damask flower pattern. Multi-color embroidered design: male figure in boat under bridge, flowering tree, house with black painted roof, phoenix, sun, clouds. Single flowering branch at one end. A,B are mirror images. a,b each stamped "Made in China". Length: 1m 4 cm; width: 17 cm each China Background: silk; damask. Pattern area: silk, gold wrapped silk; Chinese knot, satin stitch, couching. Parts of a woman's robe worn on special occasions. Early 19th century Symbolism: Phoenix - emperor of all birds; peace, prosperity, fertility, good harvest; Sun - masculine principle in nature; Plum blossom - winter, long life; Chrysanthemum - autumn, steadfastness Mary V. Hays; S.F., Ca. (personal contact) Williams; Outlines of Chinese Symbolism, pp. 60-61, 286-288, 296-297, 347-348
Donor:
Arlene Miller Rolkin
Collection place:
China
Culture or time period:
Chinese
Object type:
ethnography
Object class:
Phoenixes and Sleeve borders
Function:
2.4 Fine Clothes and Accoutrements not used exclusively for status or religious purposes