Chasuble, stole and maniple, painted silk satin, Guangzhou, China, Qing dynasty, Qianlong period, ca. 1780

Part of a set of vestments for low mass (part), comprising chasuble, stole, maniple, chalice veil and burse. Symmetrical pattern (outlined in silver) of peonies, lotuses and other flowers. Lined with red silk, two red silk tying-strings.

This chasuble made of painted silk was among the many religious silk vestments which were produced in Canton and destined for Catholic communities within China itself or other Catholic communities elsewhere in Asia, Europe and the Americas. Silk vestments produced in Canton (Guangzhou) were either made out of painted or embroidered fabrics or were self-patterned on the loom. This chasuble is formed from one loom width of cream satin- weave silk, painted with the addition of a metallic outline to the lavish floral decoration. The painted borders imitate European applied trimmings, while the floral decoration, devoid of any Christian symbolic content, is foreign to both European and Chinese people.

Purchased (T.89 to 93-1923, £13 10s.). Registered File number 1923/3544.

A duplicate set was purchased at the same time for Circulation, and numbered CIRC.624 to 629-1923.

The painting on this Christian vestment was clearly executed with the final shape of the garment in mind. China was a major source of painted silk during the late 18th and 19th centuries, and vestments made there were used by Christian communities in Asia, Europe and also the Spanish Americas as far north as California. The floral decoration on this chasuble apears to be have no specifically Christian symbolism.

T.89:1, 2; 90, 91-1923