Qipao
1930-1940 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Woman's dress (known as a cheongsam in Cantonese or a qipao in Mandarin) made from medium-weight silk with an all-over pattern of lily sprays in black and white on a grey stippled ground. It closes to the side, has a stand up collar, and is full length. The long sleeves are cut all in one with the main body of the dress and there is no seam across the top of the shoulders.
The collarband ahs an interlining. The neck fastens at the front with three knot and loop closures, horizontally placed one above the other, and the dress itself fastens all the way down one side, leaving long side slits. The small fastenings are made from black satin and are formed into the shape of lily buds which go through loops. There are also press-studs to reinforce these textile fastenings.
The dress is edged with narrow bias-cut black satin and there is a double row of this edging at the base of the neck. There is a loop of black satin sewn into the back of the collar.
Right side fastening with eleven loop and knot buttons. The huaniu are in lily buds and diamond shape. High stiff collar. Elbow length sleeves.High slit at sides. 3/4 length (below the knees). No lining. Grey synthetic fabric with supplementary warp (white and black). Lily patterns The dress is edged with narrow bias-cut black satin.
The collarband ahs an interlining. The neck fastens at the front with three knot and loop closures, horizontally placed one above the other, and the dress itself fastens all the way down one side, leaving long side slits. The small fastenings are made from black satin and are formed into the shape of lily buds which go through loops. There are also press-studs to reinforce these textile fastenings.
The dress is edged with narrow bias-cut black satin and there is a double row of this edging at the base of the neck. There is a loop of black satin sewn into the back of the collar.
Right side fastening with eleven loop and knot buttons. The huaniu are in lily buds and diamond shape. High stiff collar. Elbow length sleeves.High slit at sides. 3/4 length (below the knees). No lining. Grey synthetic fabric with supplementary warp (white and black). Lily patterns The dress is edged with narrow bias-cut black satin.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Woven silk with an all-over printed pattern |
| Brief description | Woman's dress, woven silk with an all-over printed pattern, Hong Kong, 1930-1940 |
| Physical description | Woman's dress (known as a cheongsam in Cantonese or a qipao in Mandarin) made from medium-weight silk with an all-over pattern of lily sprays in black and white on a grey stippled ground. It closes to the side, has a stand up collar, and is full length. The long sleeves are cut all in one with the main body of the dress and there is no seam across the top of the shoulders. The collarband ahs an interlining. The neck fastens at the front with three knot and loop closures, horizontally placed one above the other, and the dress itself fastens all the way down one side, leaving long side slits. The small fastenings are made from black satin and are formed into the shape of lily buds which go through loops. There are also press-studs to reinforce these textile fastenings. The dress is edged with narrow bias-cut black satin and there is a double row of this edging at the base of the neck. There is a loop of black satin sewn into the back of the collar. Right side fastening with eleven loop and knot buttons. The huaniu are in lily buds and diamond shape. High stiff collar. Elbow length sleeves.High slit at sides. 3/4 length (below the knees). No lining. Grey synthetic fabric with supplementary warp (white and black). Lily patterns The dress is edged with narrow bias-cut black satin. |
| Dimensions |
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| Credit line | Supported by the Friends of the V&A |
| Object history | Mrs Garrett's card reads: Donated Mr Fung San Yan, Stubbs road. This Chinese dress is in the style known as a cheongsam or qipao. The style was popularized in the mid- to late-1920s when women in China began to play a greater role in public life. One of the main features of this type of dress is the intricate knot and loop fastenings. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | FE.36-1995 |
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| Record created | April 6, 2009 |
| Record URL |
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