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Accession Number 2005.5.520 Title Silk Brocade Tibetan Chuba Category clothing Object Type robe Artist unknown Date Made date unknown Place Made Tibet Culture Tibetan Period 18th century Materials yellow silk satin brocaded with silk and metal-wrapped threads Materials Glossary Brocade View Materials Glossary Details » Measurements overall: 142.1 cm x 163 cm; neck to hem: 142.1 cm; cuff to cuff: x 163 cm Description

This robe is a traditional style of Tibetan robe, or a chuba, made from yellow silk brocade with a satin ground. Dragons and clouds decorate the main body of the robe with waves, rocks and the standing water hem. This…

This robe is a traditional style of Tibetan robe, or a chuba, made from yellow silk brocade with a satin ground. Dragons and clouds decorate the main body of the robe with waves, rocks and the standing water hem. This robe construction represents a typical dragon robe (jifu) from the Qing imperial court, but modified into a Tibetan style. Tibetans imported the dragon-robe cloth from China and then altered the sleeves and collar during the construction of the robe. Fabric, also with a dragon pattern, was added to the ends of the sleeves to elongate them, as well as gussets added to the underarm to widen the narrow sleeves typical of a Manchu dragon robe.

Even though the sleeve construction has been altered, the body of the robe contains eight dragons: three dragons on the front and back, with two dragons more on either shoulders. Another dragon is hidden under the flap resulting in nine dragons, which symbolizes heavenly perfection in the Qing imperial court. There are large curling waves below the dragons and the hem is ornamented with ruyi clouds and stripes of colourful 'standing water'.

Read More + Credit Line Gift of Sandy and Cécile Mactaggart