Cantonese Opera Robe Item Number: N1.629 from the MOA: University of British Columbia
Description
Blue robe with a round neck, tapered sleeves with hoof cuffs and a side opening with brass frog closures. There are slits in the centre front and back. The collar border has a gold peony motif on a red ground, edged with gold braid and pink trim. The cuffs have gold braid outside and black cotton lining inside. The robe lining is natural-coloured linen.
History Of Use
Cantonese opera costume (informal military robe), worn by man.
Cultural Context
theatre
Iconographic Meaning
The fact that this costume was worn by a military character and role type in indicated by the tight sleeves and the slits at front and back.
Specific Techniques
All visible seams are hand-sewn. Band of pink floral-patterned braid is machine-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.
Item History
- Made by Leuhn Cheung Gam Leuhn Cheung (Manufacturer) in Guangzhou, Guangdong, China during 1920
- 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 Robe
- Identification Number
- N1.629
- Type of Item
- robe
- Material
- silk fibre, flax fibre, dye, silver metal, brass metal and cotton fibre
- Manufacturing Technique
- woven, dyed, sewn, embroidered and couched
- Overall
- height 135.0 cm, width 195.5 cm
Who
- Culture
- Chinese: Cantonese
- Creator
- Leuhn Cheung Gam Leuhn Cheung (Manufacturer)
- 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
- during 1920
- Ownership Date
- before August 28, 1973
- Acquisition Date
- on August 28, 1973
Other
- Item Classes
- textiles
- Condition
- good
- Accession Number
- 0248/0014