Sleeve border. Pearl gray damask ground, embroidered with butterfly and floral motifs in peach, green, blue. All natural dyes. Gold branches. A,B are mirror images. Legs of butterflies have worn away, revealing original painted pattern used for stitching. Hems glued later. Length: 84 cm; width: 8 cm. Background: silk, damask weave. Pattern area: heavy twisted silk, gold wrapped silk; Chinese knot, satin stitch, long and short stitch, couching Part of a woman's robe, worn on special occasions. Early 19th century Symbolism: butterfly-joy, summer; plum blossom-long life, winter; peony-riches, honor, love, beauty, spring; chrysanthemum-steadfastness, autumn Williams; Outlines of Chinese Symbolism; pp. 42, 60-1, 282, 296-7. Mary V. Hays; S.F., Ca. (personal contact)
Collection place:
China
Culture or time period:
Chinese
Object type:
ethnography
Object class:
Sleeve borders
Function:
2.4 Fine Clothes and Accoutrements not used exclusively for status or religious purposes