清 緞地彩繡水田衣|Theatrical robe for a female Daoist priest

Unknown

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

This robe with colorful patchwork was a typical costume for the role of a female Daoist priest. A similar robe now in the collection of the Palace Museum, in Beijing, bears ink inscriptions that indicate it was called a “rice-paddy robe,” as its patchwork resembles the irrigated lowlands where rice is grown. Embroidery featuring multiple flowers adds charm and further suggests that the robe was designed for a female character.

Artist

Unknown

Date

18th century

Medium

Silk thread embroidery on silk satin

Culture

China

Department

Asian Art

Credit line

Rogers Fund, 1930