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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.

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.

Cultural Context

Cantonese opera theatre

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.