Description

Floor-length blue silk cape with embroidered birds and symbols. The cape opens in the front centre and has a slit midway up the back centre. The collar is a short, stand-up collar with several bands of fabric; blue-green, purple, two floral bands and one cream band. Around the collar are larger fabric borders; floral on cream background, black, green and purple on tan background, blue and green on white background. The borders edge the centre opening of the cape and continue along the bottom. The cape is decorated with egret birds, representing a Chinese civic official of the sixth rank. The egret is white with a short tail, green bill and legs. Among the birds are bright, multicoloured clouds and the eight Buddhist symbols of good fortune in couched gold thread. There are two red ties in the front centre of the cape. The inside lining is pink silk.