Untitled

Unknown

18th century · Silk and metallic thread embroidery on silk satin · Asian Art

The mandarin duck corresponds to the seventh civil rank. The birds on rank badges referred to actual species but did not necessarily reflect nature; they were represented in ways that became conventional but were not always consistent. Here, for example, the mandarin duck's feet are not webbed, while the mandarin duck in the badge exhibited next to this one has webbed feet.

Artist

Unknown

Date

18th century

Medium

Silk and metallic thread embroidery on silk satin

Culture

China

Department

Asian Art

Credit line

Bequest of William Christian Paul, 1929