Mandarin Square

52-23-27A

From: China

Curatorial Section: Asian

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Native Name Buzi (補子)
Object Number 52-23-27A
Current Location Collections Storage
Culture Chinese
Provenience China
Period Qing Dynasty
Date Made Late 19th Century
Section Asian
Materials Silk | Gold Thread
Technique Embroidered | Satin Stitch | Couched
Iconography Wild Goose | Fish | Wheel Of The Law | Umbrella | Urn | Lotus | Sun | Pearls | Mystic Knot | Eight Buddhist Symbols | Li Shui
Description

Square rank badge for civil official of fourth rank. To be worn on front of robe. Wild goose stands in center on rock amid waves. The bottom edge has the 立水 li shui ('standing water') design denoting deep water. Pearls, a fish and a flaming wheel float in the waves. Fungus and narcissus grown on the rocky banks. Five bats and four of the eight Buddhist symbols including the endless knot, the lotus, the umbrella and the urn are among the clouds. Border is Greek Fret pattern. Peking knot with couched gold thread filling in ground on black silk with blue silk backing. Seam down center.

Height 29 cm
Width 29.5 cm
Credit Line Purchased from J. S. Letcher, 1952

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