Object class: Legendary beings / Collection place: East Asia / Donor: Arlene Miller Rolkin - Hearst Museum Portal Search Results

Start Over Object class Legendary beings Collection place East Asia Donor Arlene Miller Rolkin

Hearst Museum object titled Garment, accession number 9-13554a-c, described as Tape bunches. 8 tapes hang from each green band. Each tape is blue silk satin, embroidered in silver and gold with sea, mountain, dragon, phoenix, flower. Curling motive at bottom edge. Light blue edging and lining on each tape. Worn over sides of a woman’s skirt with honeycomb pleating. Possibly used at weddings. 20th century. Symbolism: Dragon - strength, goodness; Phoenix - peace, prosperity, fertility

Hearst Museum object titled Robe, accession number 9-13556, described as Description: Mantle. Large rectangle, made of 13 patched panels and a wide border. Orange silk ground brocaded in green, blue, white, purple and gold, with geometric, floral, and dragon designs. 4 corner patches and 2 shoulder patches of different fabric - orange with brocaded gold floral pattern. Purple lining, also pieced, shows some deterioration and staining. One decorative knot with two hanging cords is attached to the left shoulder patch. Context of use: A typed white silk label sewn on lining reads: “Old red Nishiki brocade Kesa used for robe of Buddhist temple priest. The brocade and the pattern are highly known as ‘Shokko Nishiki’. This was woven by the famous Nishyin loom, Kyoto, about 125 years ago. It is a fine example of a rare antique Japanese brocade.” Another label reads “Clayes, San Francisco” with a price tag of $400. The mantle dates from the late 18th century. The cloth may have been woven for use by Chinese Buddhists, since the brocade pattern is derived from Tang designs of 700 AD. The patched garment is symbolic of the poverty of Buddha. A greater number of panels (such as this Kesa has) signifies higher rank. The purple lining also shows high rank. The corner patches, or Shi-Tenno, represent the 4 Kings of Heaven and the 4 compass points. The 2 shoulder patches, or Bosatsu, are the 2 disciples of Buddha, Fugen and Monju. The priest in his Kesa represents Buddha and his 2 assistants. The mantle is worn over the left shoulder and under the right arm, and is tied in front.

Hearst Museum object titled Robe, accession number 9-13558, described as Robe. Long tapering sleeves. Center front opening skirt; neckband and apron have tie closing on right side. Neckband is black silk satin. Upper body and sleeves are pieced from curving stripes of light blue and dark brown silk damask, and have deteriorated along shoulder creases. White, blue, and gold deteriorating couched lines on neckband on upper body. Sleeve edges are black silk satin with deteriorating gold brocade. Waist band is green silk satin with center front interlaced satin knot and two hanging tapes. Triangular tapestry aprons in front and back, each with fullface 4 clawed dragon, sacred jewel, sea, clouds in blues and greens on a red ground. Brocade and velvet borders, with one small blue glass ornament on front apron and 2 and a half on back (18 on each originally). Outer edge is white silk satin, painted in green, red, and purple with a dragon face and clouds, all padded with wool. Lower body is all tapestry. Two triangular areas under aprons have cloudlike, multicolored horizontal stripes. Rest of skirt has vertical curving stripes with alternating gold and red grounds. Multicolored leaf and vine pattern in stripes becomes swirls at lower scalloped edge. Black braid couched between each stripe. Pink silk satin lining, deteriorating at neck and front apron. Chinese writing on lining in three places. Deterioration of lower back tapestry edge shows an inner layer of coarse white plain weave wool. Lower skirt and aprons may be from a very old dragon robe, with upper body and padded painting added later. Tapestry areas are Ming designs. Finely woven tapestry, and a very unusual robe, Peking Opera costume, Imperial patronage; Kossu skirt is 17th century, remainder is 18th century (fide John Vollmer of the Royal Ontario Museum, June 1979).

Hearst Museum object titled Robe, accession number 9-13560, described as Dragon robe. Long tapering sleeves. Overlapping front with 5 loops and metal buttons on right side. Slit ⅓ up front and back. Magenta silk plain weave ground with multicolor brocade and embroidery. Right front (concealed when worn) is plain with one dragon. Main body has wide lower band of embroidered straight waves. Brocaded patterns above - 3 dragons on front, one on each shoulder, 3 on the back. Also mountains, clouds, birds, fish, bats, and other lucky symbols. The main body has been shortened around the middle by 4 inches. Neckband of black silk plain weave ground, with 5 brocade dragons, waves, clouds, bats. Edging of old black silk and flat strap gold brocade. Sleeves have embroidered sea and waves at shoulders, then plain black area with groups of woven stripes. “Horsehoof” cuff brocaded with dragons, waves, clouds. Old edging as on neck. Dragons all have 5 claws and are gold. No lining, and lower edge had come unhemmed.

Hearst Museum object titled Robe, accession number 9-13559, described as Dragon robe. Long sleeves, overlapping front with 5 loops and metal buttons on right side. Slits ⅓ up front and back. Blue silk twill ground, with multicolor embroidery. Right front (concealed when Worn) is plain with one large dragon and sacred jewel. Main body has a wide lower band of straight waves, mountains, 3 dragons on front, one on each shoulder, and 3 on back. Also scattered birds, bats, sacred jewels, clouds, and Taoist symbolic objects. Neckband black silk twill ground, embroidered with 5 dragons, waves and bats. Edging of deteriorating blue and gold brocaded tape. Sleeves are plain black silk; “horsehoof” cuffs embroidered with dragons and bats. All dragons are gold, with 5 claws. Light blue silk lining. May have been worn by a prince or high ranking mandarin official. Late 19th century. Cost collector $150.00 (old tag).

Hearst Museum object titled Robe, accession number 9-13530, described as Robe. Large rectangular garment, front opening, slits at sides for arms, front tie closing. Dark blue silk satin with red and white satin borders. Coarse natural linen lining. Fabric torn at shoulders. Heavily embroidered with gold couched designs; seal script characters, yin/yang, sea, mountain, clouds, dragons, sacred pearl, bats, cranes, vase, flowers China, att. Background: silk, satin weave. Pattern area: gold wrapped silk, couching. Supplementary areas: linen, plain weave, silk, gauze weave. Taoist priest's robe, possibly created for theater or for a country priest. Late 19th century The inscription "wen tao tang" means "to ask; a pathway", from the Tao. I-Ching trigrams, pagoda, phoenixes, stylized characters, and an inscription "wen tao tang". Chartreuse gauze patterned neck border added later. Length: 131 cm; width (sleeve to sleeve) 185 cm. Symbolism: Seal script - ancient form of writing, invented ca. 800 BC, now used ornamentally; Yin/yang - negative and positive principles of universal life; Dragon - strength, goodness, spirit of change and life; Sacred jewel - Buddhist lucky symbol; Bat - happiness; Crane - longevity; Vase - harmony; Phoenix - peace, prosperity Williams; Outlines of Chinese Symbolism, pp. 25, 84, 109-115, 280, 286-288, 384, 410-415, 420-423

Hearst Museum object titled Skirt, accession number 9-13561, described as Skirt. Wraparound. Black silk satin ground. Plain wide upper band. 2nd band of embroidery with 3 dragons. 3rd band of flat strap gold brocade. Main skirt pleated slightly, and embroidered with 5 large gold dragons and multicolor waves, clouds, bats. Also 13 small medallions with dragons. Skirt is 2 panels with slit between. Strap gold brocade edging along slit, overlapping edge, and lower edge. Blue lining. Many tears in black silk. Worn by a man for formal court occasions, probably with a short jacket. 20th century. Earlier these skirts were used for burial clothing. Cost collector $40.00 (old tag).

Hearst Museum object titled Sleeve border fragments, accession number 9-13540a,b, described as Sleeve border fragments. Green silk satin ground, embroidered with multicolor jar, flowers, phoenix. Hems glued later. A,B each stamped "Made in China". A,B are mirror images. Length: 49 cm; width: 8.5 cm. China; Sechuan area? Background: silk; satin weave Pattern area: silk; Chinese knot. Parts of a woman's robe worn on special occasions. Provincial style embroidery. Late 19th century Symbolism: Phoenix - emperor of all birds; peace, prosperity, fertility, good harvest; Jar - one of the eight signs on Buddha's foot Mary V. Hays; S.F., Ca. (personal contact) Williams; Outlines of Chinese Symbolism, pp. 203, 286-288

Hearst Museum object titled Sleeve border fragments, accession number 9-13543a,b, described as Sleeve border fragments. Green silk ground with floral and geometric damask pattern. Embroidered in multicolor with three animal emblems surrounded by symbolic Buddhist objects. Emblems contain phoenix; lion; bat with three legged toad. Hes stitched later. A,B are mirror images. a is stamped "Made in China". A) Length: 66 cm; width: 13.5 cm; B) Length: 62 cm; width: 16 cm A) China, B) China, att. Background: silk; damask weave. Pattern area: silk, silver and gold wrapped silk; Chinese knot, couching. Parts of a woman's robe worn on special occasions. 19th century Symbolism: Phoenix - emperor of all birds; peace, prosperity, fertility, good harvest; Male lion with ball - valor, energy; Rat - joy, luck; Three legged toad - wealth, good luck charm; Joo-i - power; Musical stone - harmony; Jar - one of uddha's eith foot signs; Citrus fruit - Buddha's hand Mary V. Hays; S.F., Ca. (personal contact) Williams; Outlines of Chinese Symbolism, pp. 25, 41, 203, 217-218, 205-206, 286-288, 345, 369-370

Hearst Museum object titled Sleeve border fragments, accession number 9-13516a,b, described as Sleeve border fragments. Yellow silk satin, embroidered with sea, waves, phoenix, dragon, bat, sacred jewel, clouds. Multi-color and gold. A,B are mirror images. Black satin tapes added latter. A) has two tapes; B) has one tape. A) is stamped twice "Made in China"; B) is stamped once. Length: 69 cm each. W. A) 18 cm. B) 16.5 cm China; Canton area? Background: silk; satin weave. Pattern area: silk, gold wrapped silk; Chinese knot, couching. Supplementary tapes: silk; satin weave. Part of a woman's robe, possibly worn for wedding. Length: 19th century Symbolism: Dragon - Lung - guardian, strength, goodness; Phoenix - Feng-huang - peace, prosperity, fertility; Bat - good luck; red bat - joy; Sacred jewel - Buddhist lucky symbol Mary V. Hays; S.F., Ca (personal contact). Williams; Outlines of Chinese Symbolism, pp. 25, 109-115, 280, 286-288