Untitled

Unknown

18th century · Silk embroidery on silk satin damask; bands: silk and metallic-thread embroidery on silk satin · Asian Art

Three of these exquisite jackets are known to exist: two are in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum and a third is in the Qing court collection of theatrical costumes of the Palace Museum, Beijing. All three have the same delicate floral pattern and identical seals and inscriptions on their linings. The jackets were made in the textile bureau in Suzhou as tribute objects for the imperial court. They were part of an ensemble, perhaps with a skirt or other garment, and they were worn for performances by the Jingshan theatrical troupe in the Changchun Palace, within the Forbidden City.

Artist

Unknown

Date

18th century

Medium

Silk embroidery on silk satin damask; bands: silk and metallic-thread embroidery on silk satin

Culture

China

Department

Asian Art

Credit line

Gift of Mr. and Mrs. David M. Levitt, by exchange, 1978