Not currently on display at the V&A

Fragment

1850-1940 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This fragment is probably from a child's vest. As a vest it would probably have been worn over a robe. Although it was common for children to be wearing smaller versions of adult dress, this vest stands apart not just in its size, but also in its iconography, designed to attract children. The entire vest is embroidered in the Chinese seed stitch.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Silk satin with polychrome silk embroidery
Brief description
Fragment of a child's vest or apron dress, silk satin with polychrome silk embroidery, China, 1850-1940.
Physical description
Fragment of a child's vest or apron dress, with figures, animals and flowers embroidered in silks in Peking knot and darned silk pile on dark blue satin.
Dimensions
  • Height: 31.8cm
  • Width: 34.2cm
Marks and inscriptions
(Embroidered character motif)
Translation
'Double happiness'
Gallery label
PART OF A CHILD'S DRESS. Silk on satin: chenille embroidery and Pekin knots. Worked with Taoist symbols. CHINESE; (Ch'ing dynasty?). Vuilleumier Collection.
Credit line
Purchased with Art Fund support
Object history
Registered File number 1947/374. From the collection of Bernard Vuilleumier.
Subjects depicted
Summary
This fragment is probably from a child's vest. As a vest it would probably have been worn over a robe. Although it was common for children to be wearing smaller versions of adult dress, this vest stands apart not just in its size, but also in its iconography, designed to attract children. The entire vest is embroidered in the Chinese seed stitch.
Collection
Accession number
T.119-1948

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Record createdFebruary 12, 2000
Record URL
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