These short trousers were made by overlapping panels of yellow gauze weave silk sewn onto a cotton waistband. The bottom corners of each panel are sewn together for a depth of ten centimetres, so forming leg holes. Around the hem is a band of counted thread embroidery of flowers, fruit, ‘precious objects’ and butterflies. Three applied bindings finish off the edges – woven tape, a blue embroidered band and a black satin weave edging. The same black satin reinforces the lower section of the open back. When worn the long slit would be to the back. The short lenght of these trousers suggests that they could be either to be worn by a child or possibly an item of women's underwear, the split back being a convenient style in either case. This style of trousers were, and are, worn by Chinese children but this particular pair’s fullness suggests that they may be a lady’s undergarment.