Mandarin Square

52-23-62B

From: China

Curatorial Section: Asian

View All (1) Object Images

Object Number 52-23-62B
Current Location Collections Storage
Culture Chinese
Provenience China
Period Qing Dynasty
Date Made Late 19th Century - Early 20th Century
Section Asian
Materials Silk | Satin | Gold Thread
Technique Embroidered | Satin Stitch | Split Satin Stitch | Couched
Iconography Oriole | Sun | Swastika | Fungus
Description

Insignia from a section of an Imperial musician's robe. Flying yellow Oriole at center amidst green, blue, pink and red clouds against bright red silk background. Red sun in upper corner. Waves at bottom with blue rock at center. Swatstika floating in air above waves and fungus floating amidst waves. The Chinese term for swastika is 萬 wan, meaning "myriad" (lit. 'ten thousand') and is meant to invoke the infinite blessings or wishes for happiness for the wearer of the badge. Double yellow line border. Coarsely embroidered using satin stitch, split satin stitch and couched gold thread for outlines. Green silk backing. Not an official square as orioles were not used by Qing Dynasty officials.

Height 29.3 cm
Width 29.5 cm
Credit Line Purchased from J. S. Letcher, 1952

Report problems and issues to digitalmedia@pennmuseum.org.