Cloth Item Number: 396/5 from the MOA: University of British Columbia
Description
Plain red cloth, with uneven end and long edge.
History Of Use
Such cloths were and are used on the occasion of the wedding of a son of the family. Vertical couplets with auspicious sayings in calligraphy are pasted on each side of the main door of the house, where the bride will enter, and a horizontal paper across and above the door. The diamond-shaped paper with the characters meaning “double happiness” is pasted on the door itself, and the red cloth is draped across the top of the door and down both sides.
Iconographic Meaning
The colour red is both auspicious and protective.
Narrative
Mrs. Yau Chan, Shek-ying gave this set of door decorations used in weddings to Elizabeth Johnson to add to the Chinese collections of the Museum of Anthropology. She understood the importance of preserving objects that provided evidence of the local history that she had experienced, and gave significant support to the collection and documentation of many objects in the Museum of Anthropology’s Hong Kong collections.
Item History
- Made in Tsuen Wan, Hong Kong, China during 1976
- Collected by Elizabeth L. Johnson during 1977
- Owned by Chan Shek-Ying Yau
- Owned by Elizabeth L. Johnson before July 14, 1977
- Received from Elizabeth L. Johnson (Donor) on July 14, 1977
What
- Name
- Cloth
- Identification Number
- 396/5
- Type of Item
- cloth
- Material
- cotton fibre and dye
- Overall
- height 21.8 cm, width 353.0 cm
Who
- Culture
- Chinese: Hakka
- Field Collector
- Elizabeth L. Johnson
- Previous Owner
- Chan Shek-Ying Yau and Elizabeth L. Johnson
- Received from
- Elizabeth L. Johnson (Donor)
Where
- Holding Institution
- MOA: University of British Columbia
- Made in
- Tsuen Wan, Hong Kong, China
When
- Creation Date
- during 1976
- Collection Date
- during 1977
- Ownership Date
- before July 14, 1977
- Acquisition Date
- on July 14, 1977
Other
- Item Classes
- textiles
- Condition
- good
- Accession Number
- 0396/0005