Pants Item Number: Edz1315 from the MOA: University of British Columbia

Description

White pants with indigo embroidered fruit and flower motifs. The pants have a wide waistband with two centre ties. The pant legs are pleated into the waistband and the legs flare outwards. The upper inseams have a curved cutout, finished with bias binding. Each leg has embroidered persimmon, peach, pomegranate and floral motifs above a geometric 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.

Cultural Context

utilitarian;household

Iconographic Meaning

Persimmon; joy. Peach; marriage, immortality, longevity. Pomegranate; offspring, posterity.

Item History

What

Name
Pants
Identification Number
Edz1315
Type of Item
pant
Material
cotton fibre and indigo dye
Manufacturing Technique
woven, dyed, stitched and embroidered
Overall
height 51.0 cm, width 47.0 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
Accession Number
0567/0090