Cantonese Opera Skeleton Costume Item Number: N1.856 a from the MOA: University of British Columbia
Description
One piece black skeleton costume (part a). The complete skeletal frame is painted on the front and back in white. The costume covers the head, arms, hands, and legs. There are slits for the eyes, nose and mouth on the front and back. There is a centre front opening with three ties. N1.856 b-c are costume slippers that are worn over shoes to complete the costume.
History Of Use
Used to represent a skeleton in Cantonese opera. The conditions of production of costumes pre World War II are not known with certainty. As most costumes have repeated motifs, some method must have been used to replicate them for embroidery and couching. This work was probably done on a putting-out basis under the auspices of the production company, by women. The final finishing may have been done by men in the company headquarters.
Cultural Context
theatre
Specific Techniques
All sewing was done by machine. The facial features are roughly cut out and unfinished.
Narrative
A large group of Cantonese opera costumes, musical instruments, props, trunks, and stage fittings was left with the Jin Wah Sing Musical Association, apparently by some of the many itinerant troupes visiting Vancouver to perform in the Chinatown theatres in the pre World War II period. There is no certain knowledge of why these materials were not taken back to China by them. They were used by the Jin Wah Sing Musical Association in their performances until they became too dated. The association continued to preserve them carefully, storing them in their headquarters and in the basement of the Chinese Freemasons building until several groups of materials were sold and donated to the Museum of Anthropology.
Item History
- Made in Guangzhou, Guangdong, China ?
- Collected in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- Owned by Jin Wah Sing Musical Association before August 28, 1973
- Received from Barrett Montford Endowment Fund (Funding source), Jin Wah Sing Musical Association (Seller), Leon & Thea Koerner Foundation (Funding source), Museum of Anthropology Donations Fund (Funding source), Mah Society of North America (Funding source), Canada-China Friendship Association (Funding source), Quon H. Wong Agencies (Funding source) and Edith Low-Beer (Funding source) on August 28, 1973
What
- Name
- Cantonese Opera Skeleton Costume
- Identification Number
- N1.856 a
- Type of Item
- costume
- Material
- cotton fibre, dye and paint ?
- Manufacturing Technique
- spun, woven, dyed, cut, sewn and stencilled
- Overall
- height 179.5 cm, width 176.0 cm
Who
- Culture
- Chinese: Cantonese
- Previous Owner
- Jin Wah Sing Musical Association
- Received from
- Barrett Montford Endowment Fund (Funding source), Jin Wah Sing Musical Association (Seller), Leon & Thea Koerner Foundation (Funding source), Museum of Anthropology Donations Fund (Funding source), Mah Society of North America (Funding source), Canada-China Friendship Association (Funding source), Quon H. Wong Agencies (Funding source) and Edith Low-Beer (Funding source)
Where
- Holding Institution
- MOA: University of British Columbia
- Made in
- Guangzhou, Guangdong, China ?
- Collected in
- Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
When
- Ownership Date
- before August 28, 1973
- Acquisition Date
- on August 28, 1973
Other
- Item Classes
- textiles
- Condition
- good
- Accession Number
- 0248/0241 a