Front panel of “ho-pao” (perfume) pouch. Red damask rayon with paper interfacing and pink cotton lining. A pink cotton back provided, but stitched shut with the sea-green hanging cord which is looped in front. Its holes are reinforced by a glass plaque. The cord holds an apple green butterfly knot. The ends of the two-ply knot cord are dyed yellow to match the yellow of the 10 cm long fine silk tassels; but first the cords run through squash-shaped silver beads. The pouch is framed with a navy blue and silver braid, glued on, not stitched. The center legend reads: “Double Joy” indicating that this imitation pouch is to be attached to a wedding gift. The leaf embroidery flanking the Chinese character is miserably executed with one long stitch for each leaf or stem. The yellow color of the tassels signifies a) a cheapening of the former imperial values and b) a yearning for royalty (until 1911 yellow was strictly reserved for members of the imperial clan). Fide: Ilse Fang, 8/28/2001: People still remembered the old official pouches, but here they just give it an aspect of those pouches - this is all fake.
Donor:
Ilse Martin Fang
Collection place:
China
Verbatim coll. place:
China. Purchased by Ilse M. Fang at Nanking flea market.
Culture or time period:
Chinese
Collector:
Ilse Martin Fang
Collection date:
1945
Materials:
Cotton (textile), Glass (material), Rayon, Silk, and Silver (metal)