Jacket Item Number: Edz1316 from the MOA: University of British Columbia

Description

White jacket embroidered with black thread and trimmed with black outward turned facing. The jacket has a round neck, wide sleeves and centre opening with frog closures. On the shoulders are two small roundels with bird, sprig, bat, lotus and butterfly motifs. On the centre back is a large roundel with two birds, butterfly, lotus, cherry blossom, sprigs, leaves, centipede and spider motifs. There is black facing around the neck, sleeves and centre opening. 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

Taoist and other symbols of happiness, longevity and to dispel evil. Butterfly; joy, conjugal felicity. Bat; happiness, prosperity, longevity.

Cultural Context

utilitarian;household

Item History

What

Name
Jacket
Identification Number
Edz1316
Type of Item
jacket
Material
cotton fibre and indigo dye
Manufacturing Technique
woven, dyed, stitched and embroidered
Overall
height 42.0 cm, width 74.0 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
0567/0091