Pair of Badges thumbnail 1
Pair of Badges thumbnail 2
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Pair of Badges

ca. 1700-1800 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

These are a pair of rank badges for a court official of the Manchu-ruled Qing Dynasty of China (1644 - 1911). Both badges were made to adorn the front and back of a navy blue surcoat worn by court officials during ceremonial and courtly functions.

Stylised images of birds and animals were respectively used to indicate the different ranks of civil and military officials. This badge depicts a stylised qilin, a mythical beast, and would have been worn by a Military Official of the First Rank.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Parts
This object consists of 2 parts.

  • Rank Badge
  • Rank Badge
Materials and techniques
Embroidered satin silk with silk and silver threads
Brief description
Pair of silk embroidered military badges, China, ca. 1700-1800
Physical description
Pair of Qing military rank badges of dark blue satin embroidered with coloured silks and silver threads in long and short, satin and stem stitches with knots and laid and couched work. They are lined with pale blue silk.

The central embroidered design depicts qilin, a scaled and hoofed beast, and an emblem of the first military rank, snarling over its shoulder. It stands on a rocky promontory, from which grows fungus, peony, and other plants. To the left are other rocks from which grow pine trees. Above are clouds, bats and the sun; below are sea waves amongst which appear jewels, musical stone of jade, vase containing coral and ju-i sceptre, scrolls and flaming jewel. Border of fret pattern is embroidered with silver-gilt thread.
Dimensions
  • Each length: 27cm
  • Each width: 27cm
Style
Object history
These badges were designed to facilitate the change in rank of officials, so the central space would have been left blank to be successively filled with the design of an animal or bird. Badges worn in pair, such as these two, would carry a design with the two animals facing opposite ways, with the animals of the back badge facing left. In some cases however, badges for wives of officials would reverse such practice so that the animals on the respective outer coats would face each other.
Subjects depicted
Summary
These are a pair of rank badges for a court official of the Manchu-ruled Qing Dynasty of China (1644 - 1911). Both badges were made to adorn the front and back of a navy blue surcoat worn by court officials during ceremonial and courtly functions.

Stylised images of birds and animals were respectively used to indicate the different ranks of civil and military officials. This badge depicts a stylised qilin, a mythical beast, and would have been worn by a Military Official of the First Rank.
Collection
Accession number
T.164&A-1965

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Record createdDecember 10, 2002
Record URL
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