Emperor's Court Robe
1875-1908 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Formal court robe for an emperor known as chaopao. This is a full length robe with a fully gathered skirt. It is right-side fastening with gilt buttons. It has long and tight sleeves with horse-hoof cuffs. The skirt is pleated at waist level.
The robe has a yellow twill (2/1) ground embroidered with floss silks and gilt threads in satin stitch and couched work. The robe bears the ‘twelve symbols’: the Sun and Moon discs are on shoulders. The three star Constellation and the Mountain are at neck level. The Axe Head, the Fusymbol (resembling two Es back to back), the Pheasant and the Dragon are on the upper part of the garment. The pair of Sacrificial Cups, the Flames, the Waterweed and the Grains are on the skirt band.
The garment has a yellow silk plain weave lining throughout.
The robe has a yellow twill (2/1) ground embroidered with floss silks and gilt threads in satin stitch and couched work. The robe bears the ‘twelve symbols’: the Sun and Moon discs are on shoulders. The three star Constellation and the Mountain are at neck level. The Axe Head, the Fusymbol (resembling two Es back to back), the Pheasant and the Dragon are on the upper part of the garment. The pair of Sacrificial Cups, the Flames, the Waterweed and the Grains are on the skirt band.
The garment has a yellow silk plain weave lining throughout.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Silk twill ground embroidered with floss silks and metallic thread, lined with silk |
| Brief description | Emperor's formal court robe of embroidered silk twill, China, 1875-1908 |
| Physical description | Formal court robe for an emperor known as chaopao. This is a full length robe with a fully gathered skirt. It is right-side fastening with gilt buttons. It has long and tight sleeves with horse-hoof cuffs. The skirt is pleated at waist level. The robe has a yellow twill (2/1) ground embroidered with floss silks and gilt threads in satin stitch and couched work. The robe bears the ‘twelve symbols’: the Sun and Moon discs are on shoulders. The three star Constellation and the Mountain are at neck level. The Axe Head, the Fusymbol (resembling two Es back to back), the Pheasant and the Dragon are on the upper part of the garment. The pair of Sacrificial Cups, the Flames, the Waterweed and the Grains are on the skirt band. The garment has a yellow silk plain weave lining throughout. |
| Dimensions |
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| Style | |
| Credit line | Bequeathed by W. Llewellyn Jones |
| Object history | Formerly in the Vuilleumier collection. Yellow court robes would have been worn by the Qing emperors on special occasions such as sacrifice at the Altar of Earth, New Year day and the emperor's birthday. The shade of yellow, known as 'bright yellow' or 'imperial yellow', was reserved for the emperor, the empress and the empress dowager only. |
| Production | Guangxu Emperor's reign |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | T.753-1950 |
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| Record created | December 6, 2002 |
| Record URL |
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