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2005.5.93 - Blue Silk Gauze Surcoat for a Man

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Object Typesurcoat Artistunknown Date Madedate unknown

Item Details

Object Typesurcoat Artistunknown Date Madedate unknown
Accession Number 2005.5.93 Title Blue Silk Gauze Surcoat for a Man Category clothing Object Type surcoat Artist unknown Date Made date unknown Place Made China Culture Chinese Period Qing 19th century Materials blue silk gauze with embroidered silk rank badges Materials Glossary Embroidery View Materials Glossary Details » Measurements overall: 120.3 cm x 184 cm; neck to hem: 120.3 cm; cuff to cuff: x 184 cm Description
A black silk gauze (leno weave) surcoat (or bufu) with medallions woven into ground and embroidered rank badges on the front and back. There is a crane, recognizable by the red cap on its head, on the square rank…
A black silk gauze (leno weave) surcoat (or bufu) with medallions woven into ground and embroidered rank badges on the front and back. There is a crane, recognizable by the red cap on its head, on the square rank badges, which identifes the wearer as a first-rank civil official. The position of the sun on the left side of the badge (the wearer's right side) indicates that the wearer is a man. Clouds surround the crane, as well as bats, which symbolize good fortune. An ascending and descending dragon can be found in each medallion in the ground of the surcoat. This surcoat has a typical front opening with five brass buttons, and three vents - two at the sides and one in the back. Garments like this were used to represent the wearer's identity to the broader society and, as such, it would have been worn as an outer garment over robes, as seen in the Family Portrait painting (2007.23.1). Consorts and children often wore badges that declared the patriarch's rank as well.
Credit Line Gift of Sandy and Cécile Mactaggart
© 2019 University of Alberta
© 2019 University of Alberta
© 2019 University of Alberta

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"2005.5.93 - Blue Silk Gauze Surcoat for a Man, Mactaggart Art Collection." University of Alberta Museums Search Site, https://search.museums.ualberta.ca/21-19315. Accessed 22 Jun. 2024.