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Not on display

This object consists of 12 parts, some of which may be located elsewhere.

Suit of Armour

19th century (made)
Artist/Maker
Unknown
Place of origin
China (made)

Suit of armour consisting of a tunic, skirt, apron, two shoulder pieces, collar, helmet and two plumes. The tunic is short with long wides sleeves, with a skirt shaped for riding. The shoulder pieces and skirt are embroidered with medallions with dragons and flowers. The apron has a lion's head at the top and a dragon emerging from waves at the bottom, with a longevity (shou) character in the centre. The silvered metal helmet has triple flaps of brocade fastening under the chin, with crown, rim, and side pieces of gilt metal pierced and ornamented with dragons and birds. The top arefeather plumes

Object details

Categories
Arms & Armour
Textiles
Object type
Suit of armour
Parts
This object consists of 12 parts.

  • Tunic
  • Skirt
  • Skirt
  • Epaulette
  • Epaulette
  • Collar (Neckwear)
  • HELMET
  • Plume
  • Plume Holder
  • Plume
  • Panel
  • Panel
Materials and techniques
Purple and gold silk brocade embroidered with silk and metal thread; helmet and armaments of brass and silvered and gilt metal
Silk (Textile)
Metal
Feathers
Metal Thread
Brocading
Embroidery
Brief description
Suit of armour, silk brocade and metal, China, 19th century (Qing dynasty)
Physical description
Suit of armour consisting of a tunic, skirt, apron, two shoulder pieces, collar, helmet and two plumes. The tunic is short with long wides sleeves, with a skirt shaped for riding. The shoulder pieces and skirt are embroidered with medallions with dragons and flowers. The apron has a lion's head at the top and a dragon emerging from waves at the bottom, with a longevity (shou) character in the centre. The silvered metal helmet has triple flaps of brocade fastening under the chin, with crown, rim, and side pieces of gilt metal pierced and ornamented with dragons and birds. The top arefeather plumes
Dimensions
  • Tunic length: 72.4cm (Note: converted from department inventory)
  • Tunic width: 205.7cm (including sleeves) (Note: converted from department inventory)
  • Skirt length: 76.2cm (Note: converted from department inventory)
  • Skirt width: 121.9cm (greatest) (Note: converted from department inventory)
  • Apron length: 73.7cm (Note: converted from department inventory)
  • Apron width: 34.3cm (Note: converted from department inventory)
  • Shoulder pieces length: 40.6cm (each) (Note: converted from department inventory)
  • Shoulder pieces width: 48.3cm (each) (Note: converted from department inventory)
  • Collar length: 49.5cm (Note: converted from department inventory)
  • Collar width: 30.5cm (Note: converted from department inventory)
  • Helmet height: 60.9cm (Note: converted from department inventory)
  • Helmet width: 24.1cm (Note: converted from department inventory)
Object history
Purchased from Mrs. Olga Julia Wegener (44 Longridge Road, Earl's Court, S.W.), accessioned in 1907. This acquisition information reflects that found in the Asia Department registers, as part of a 2022 provenance research project.
Collection
East Asia Collection
Accession number
562-1907

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Record createdJune 25, 2009
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O483377/suit-of-armour-unknown/
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