Robe Item Number: N1.63 from the MOA: University of British Columbia

Description

Blue robe with rounded neck, wide sleeves, side slits and side opening with brass frog closures. On the front, back and sleeves are dragon, fire, pearl, cloud, wave, ruyi sceptre, wheel of law, vase, umbrella, conch shell and bat motifs on blue ground. The border around the neck and partway down the side opening has a gold geometric pattern on brown ground. The sleeves have a border with bird, insect, bat and floral motifs on green ground with cream floral and brown geometric trims. The inside lining is pink damask silk with circle and bat motifs.

Cultural Context

probably a theatrical costume worn to represent an elder noble woman.