Mandarin square, Quing dynasty, 19th century
China
not available anymore
Size
M: 28 cm x 29 cm
M: 11.0 inch x 11.4 inch
Description
gold thread embroidery on black silk, pheasant in flight, surrounded by wave and cloud motifs, glazed
A so-called “mandarin square”, also known as a rank badge, was a large embroidered badge sewn onto the surcoat of an official in Imperial China. It was embroidered with detailed, colourful animal or bird insignia indicating the rank of the official wearing it.
The mandarin cloth was used in the period between the Ming Dynasty (14th century) and the fall of the Qing Dynasty in 1911.