Jacket Item Number: Edz1314 from the MOA: University of British Columbia
Description
White jacket with dark blue embroidery. The jacket has a round neck, wide sleeves and centre opening with frog closures. On the centre front is a large roundel with lotus, leaves and sprigs. In the front corners are triangular designs with cock, floral, ribbon and fish motifs. On the centre back is a large roundel with swastika, lion, leaf and floral motifs with smaller book, lotus and bee motifs. On the shoulders are roundels with phoenix, peach and floral motifs. The sleeves are hemmed with cicada design and an inner rinceau butterfly border. The inside is unlined.
History Of Use
Blue and white embroideries are part of an ancient domestic tradition. Designs vary geographically but are constant within generations of families except for minor individual variations. Often used to decorate the bed which traditionally played a focal part in household ritual particularly at the new year when all household spirits were honored. They are family made, by women, and family owned. These embroideries were of no local commercial value.
Iconographic Meaning
Two fish; Buddhist symbol to dispel evil. Swastika; supreme good luck. Lotus flower, creative power. Phoenix; female genius, beauty, prosperity. Peach; marriage, longevity. Butterfly; joy, conjugal felicity. Books; scholar.
Cultural Context
utilitarian;household
Item History
- Made in Chengdu, Sichuan, China before 1945
- Collected between 1932 and 1945
- Owned by Kathleen F. Spooner before April 25, 1979
- Received from Kathleen F. Spooner (Seller) and Museum of Anthropology Donations Fund (Funding source) on April 25, 1979
What
- Name
- Jacket
- Identification Number
- Edz1314
- Type of Item
- jacket
- Material
- cotton fibre and indigo dye
- Manufacturing Technique
- woven, dyed, stitched and embroidered
- Overall
- height 69.0 cm, width 40.0 cm
Who
- Culture
- Chinese
- Previous Owner
- Kathleen F. Spooner
- Received from
- Kathleen F. Spooner (Seller) and Museum of Anthropology Donations Fund (Funding source)
Where
- Holding Institution
- MOA: University of British Columbia
- Made in
- Chengdu, Sichuan, China
When
- Creation Date
- before 1945
- Collection Date
- between 1932 and 1945
- Ownership Date
- before April 25, 1979
- Acquisition Date
- on April 25, 1979
Other
- Item Classes
- textiles
- Condition
- good
- Current Location
- Case 83
- Accession Number
- 0567/0089