Costume Tie Item Number: N1.886 a-c from the MOA: University of British Columbia
Description
Three pieces of flat cotton strips. Two pieces (parts a-b) are of coarsely woven cotton, ecru in colour. One piece (part c) is shorter, more finely woven and yellow-white in colour.
History Of Use
The two longer ties (a-b) are of the type used to hold a flag-holder on the back of a general or other military officer. Flag holders from this period are made of leather, sometimes faced with cloth appliqued or embroidered with the head of a fierce animal such as a tiger. The flag-holder has slots for four flags that spread over the general’s back and project over his or her head. The ties thread through the holder and fasten around the general’s shoulders and across his or her chest to hold it in place.
Specific Techniques
All appear to be hand-woven.
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.
Cultural Context
Cantonese opera theatre
Item History
- Made in Guangzhou, Guangdong, China ? before 1940
- 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
- Costume Tie
- Identification Number
- N1.886 a-c
- Type of Item
- tie
- Material
- cotton fibre
- Manufacturing Technique
- spun and woven
- Part A
- height 1.0 cm, width 353.0 cm, depth 1.0 cm
- Part B
- height 1.5 cm, width 358.0 cm, depth 2.5 cm
- Part C
- height 0.5 cm, width 148.0 cm, depth 1.0 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
- Creation Date
- before 1940
- Ownership Date
- before August 28, 1973
- Acquisition Date
- on August 28, 1973
Other
- Item Classes
- textiles
- Condition
- fair
- Accession Number
- 0248/0271 a-c