Qipao thumbnail 1
Not currently on display at the V&A

Qipao

1970-1983 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Woman's dress (qipao) of black flowers printed on a ground of blue silk damask with self patterned flowers. The dress fastens at the front with three spiral shaped huaniu (loop and knot buttons) in the "yi" style closure with pearl buttons. The garment has additional press studs and a hidden zip at the side seam. The dress has a high standing, stiff collar and long sleeves. It is a full length gown with high slits at the sides. It has a blue synthetic plain weave lining and blue piping at all the borders.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Parts
This object consists of 2 parts.

  • Qipao
  • Studs
Materials and techniques
Self-patterned and printed silk damask
Brief description
Woman's dress qipao of silk damask, Taiwan, 1970-1983
Physical description
Woman's dress (qipao) of black flowers printed on a ground of blue silk damask with self patterned flowers. The dress fastens at the front with three spiral shaped huaniu (loop and knot buttons) in the "yi" style closure with pearl buttons. The garment has additional press studs and a hidden zip at the side seam. The dress has a high standing, stiff collar and long sleeves. It is a full length gown with high slits at the sides. It has a blue synthetic plain weave lining and blue piping at all the borders.
Dimensions
  • Side slits length: 40cm
Credit line
Given by Madame Chiang Kai-shek
Object history
This qipao was made for and worn by the former First Lady of China, Song Meiling (Madame Chiang Kai-shek, b.1897). She is closely identified with this style of dress and wore it to show her allegiance to the Nationalist cause.She added her own hallmark to the style by wearing three large pearl buttons across the top of the dress. She is seen wearing this dress in pictures taken in 1983. Mrs Gwendolyn Chien, the wife of the Taiwan Representative to the UK, was instrumental in acquiring this dress for the V&A, see FE.119-1996.
Associated object
Bibliographic references
  • China's Women. No. 4.44 September, 1983, pp. 3, 5 & 7.
  • Verity Wilson. Dressing for Leadership in China: Wives and Husbands in an Age of Revolutions (1911-1976). Gender and History. November, 2002, 608-628
Collection
Accession number
FE.112:1, 2-1996

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Record createdDecember 8, 2004
Record URL
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