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2005.5.547.1 - Front Panel of a Rank Badge for a Fourth Rank Civil Official

Mactaggart Art Collection Read more about this collection »

Object Typerank badge Artistunknown Date Made1875-1908

Item Details

Object Typerank badge Artistunknown Date Made1875-1908
Accession Number 2005.5.547.1 Title Front Panel of a Rank Badge for a Fourth Rank Civil Official Alternate Title Rank Badge - Pair with #1192 Category textiles Object Type rank badge Artist unknown Date Made 1875-1908 Place Made China Culture Chinese Period Qing 19th-20th centuries Materials gold wrapped silk thread; linen; silk; silk floss; silver wrapped silk thread; embroidery Materials Glossary Embroidery View Materials Glossary Details » Measurements overall: 29.1 cm x 30.6 cm Description
Rank badges, always made in pairs, were placed on the front and back of surcoats in order to communicate their wearer’s rank during the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing dynasties (1644-1911). Different motifs were…
Rank badges, always made in pairs, were placed on the front and back of surcoats in order to communicate their wearer’s rank during the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing dynasties (1644-1911). Different motifs were regulated by the imperial court, including bird motifs used only for civil officials while beasts were used for military officials. The hierarchy of ranks within these categories was represented by specific birds and beasts. This pair of rank badges features a goose, which represents the fourth rank of a civil official.

The front badge is made into two separate panels to accommodate the front opening of a surcoat, while the back badge is made in one piece. The patterns on the front and back badges are identical. This rank badge pair was decorated with counted stitch embroidery made from polychrome silk floss and metal-wrapped threads. In the center of the badge is a goose standing on rocks and surrounded by waves. The bird is looking toward a red sun at the upper left corner. Blue curvilinear clouds fill the background of the top of the badge, while interlinked ruyi clouds form a line underneath the waves. The bottom shows diagonal stripes, representing standing water, woven in two-toned metal-wrapped threads. The Eight Buddhist Treasures are scattered throughout, including the parasol, canopy, endless knot and lotus in the sky, and the vase, fish, conch, and wheel in the waves. The border of the badge features black embroidery with bats (which represent fortune) and longevity characters.

Credit Line Gift of Sandy and Cécile Mactaggart
© 2019 University of Alberta
© 2019 University of Alberta

Citation

Page Citation for 2005.5.547.1 - Front Panel of a Rank Badge for a Fourth Rank Civil Official

Page Citation

"2005.5.547.1 - Front Panel of a Rank Badge for a Fourth Rank Civil Official, Mactaggart Art Collection." University of Alberta Museums Search Site, https://search.museums.ualberta.ca/21-23057. Accessed 05 May. 2024.


Object Hierarchy

2005.5.547.1 - Front Panel of a Rank Badge for a Fourth Rank Civil Official

Object Type Artist Date Made