Vest Item Number: 2508/3 from the MOA: University of British Columbia
Description
Man’s brown silk brocade vest has a high collar and side front opening with button and loop closures. The vest fastens with gilt metal ball-shaped buttons, one at the neck at centre front; the left side of the vest front extends to completely overlap the right side, and there are buttons and loops at the right upper chest, under the right armhole and halfway down the right side seam. The brown silk brocade textile has a satiny sheen, and there are large (12 cm) brown, floral roundels in a contrasting pile weave, regularly spaced over the surface. A small patch pocket made of silk brocade that matches the vest in colour but not in design is located at chest level on the right side of the vest front, concealed underneath the front closure. The vest is lined in lightweight green silk brocade. There are 9 cm slits in the side seams at the hemline.
History Of Use
Worn for travelling out of town on personal business (not on official business). According to the Yuthok family, the textile used in this vest came from China and is called “Bumatargato.” The vest was worn over a long robe with a mandarin collar.
Iconographic Meaning
Chinese Qing Dynasty Style
Narrative
Yapshi-Yuthok Kalon Tashi Dhondup Collection: The title Yapshi is given to all families that have a Dalai Lama born into the family, and Shape and Kalon are titles that the four lay Cabinet Ministers hold. The Yuthok family is descended from the 10th Dalai Lama, Tsultrim Gyatso. Being a Minister in the Traditional Tibetan Government, Yapshi-Yuthok Tashi Dhondup was also known as Shape or Kalon Yuthok. There is one item belonging to Kalon Yuthok that is in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum: a Tibetan saddle, which he used on special occasions and during the Tibetan New Year when he would go to the Potala Palace. It was the wish of the late Mrs. Tsering Dolkar Yapshi-Yuthok that the museum display the family's heirloom textiles so that visitors could learn about Tibet's rich history and culture.
Item History
- Made in Tibet
- Owned by Yuthok Family before July 27, 2000
- Received from Fyfe-Smith Memorial Oriental Collection Fund (Funding source) and Yuthok Family (Seller) on July 27, 2000
What
- Name
- Vest
- Identification Number
- 2508/3
- Type of Item
- vest
- Material
- silk fibre, dye and metal
- Overall
- height 61.7 cm, width 64.5 cm, depth 3.7 cm
Who
- Culture
- Tibetan
- Previous Owner
- Yuthok Family
- Received from
- Fyfe-Smith Memorial Oriental Collection Fund (Funding source) and Yuthok Family (Seller)
Where
- Holding Institution
- MOA: University of British Columbia
- Made in
- Tibet
When
- Ownership Date
- before July 27, 2000
- Acquisition Date
- on July 27, 2000
Other
- Item Classes
- textiles
- Condition
- good
- Accession Number
- 2508/0003