University of Alberta Museums Search

Item Details

Accession Number 2005.5.362.1 Title Embroidered Silk Roundel Category clothing Object Type roundel Artist unknown Date Made 1912-1917 Place Made China Culture Chinese Period Modern 20th century Materials silk floss; silk satin; embroidery Materials Glossary Embroidery View Materials Glossary Details » Measurements overall: 24 cm diameter Description

With the fall of the Qing dynasty in 1911, the rank badge system was abolished along with the end of the imperial bureaucracy. However, in 1916, Yuan Shikai attempted to restore the Qing Empire by declaring himself…

With the fall of the Qing dynasty in 1911, the rank badge system was abolished along with the end of the imperial bureaucracy. However, in 1916, Yuan Shikai attempted to restore the Qing Empire by declaring himself Emperor Hongxian. This embroidered roundel, featuring the Twelve Symbols of Imperial Authority, serves as an example of his effort to invoke imperial imagery. There are nine motifs of the Twelve Symbols embroidered on the roundel, including a pair of cups, seaweed, fire, grain, an axe, a pheasant, a dragon, mountains and the fu character in the centre. Encircling the entire composition is a border of circular ruyi-shaped clouds.

Read More + Credit Line Gift of Sandy and Cécile Mactaggart