Roundel
18th century-19th century (made)
Artist/Maker | |
Place of origin |
This roundel would have come from a surcoat (or its unmade dress length) intended for an Emperor or a Prince. It is one of a set of four roundels. This sample is made of two hemispheric parts, indicating that it would have been the front of the surcoat. The front facing five-clawed dragon has the symbol of the Big Dipper above its head, one of the Twelve Imperial Insignia normally allowed only to the Emperor by sumptuary law. The symbol of the Big Dipper, along with the sun and moon symbols that adorn the shoulder roundels (see T.153A-1965 and T.153B-1965 respectively), symbolise light on earth and also signalled the seasons.
Object details
Categories | |
Object type | |
Materials and techniques | Embroidered silk with silk and silver threads |
Brief description | Roundel of silk embroidered with silk and silver threads, China, 18th century-19th century |
Physical description | Roundel of dark blue silk cut from an Emperor's or Prince's surcoat, formed out of two hemispheric panels. It is embroidered in coloured silk and silver threads in long and short, satin and stem stitches with couched work. It bears a front-facing five-clawed dragon encircling a flaming jewel, amidst clouds, bats and swastikas with sea waves below. The sun is one of the twelve imperial symbols. Frame is a latter-day addition. |
Dimensions |
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Style | |
Object history | Part of a set of four roundels T.153 to C-1965 |
Subjects depicted | |
Summary | This roundel would have come from a surcoat (or its unmade dress length) intended for an Emperor or a Prince. It is one of a set of four roundels. This sample is made of two hemispheric parts, indicating that it would have been the front of the surcoat. The front facing five-clawed dragon has the symbol of the Big Dipper above its head, one of the Twelve Imperial Insignia normally allowed only to the Emperor by sumptuary law. The symbol of the Big Dipper, along with the sun and moon symbols that adorn the shoulder roundels (see T.153A-1965 and T.153B-1965 respectively), symbolise light on earth and also signalled the seasons. |
Collection | |
Accession number | T.153-1965 |
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Record created | June 25, 2009 |
Record URL |
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