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Surcoat
Surcoat

Surcoat

Datelate 19th-century
Label TextThis exquisite surcoat is the second-most formal type of official clothing for women during the Qing period. Decorations on Qing official wardrobes designated the rank of the wearer. The empress dowager and empress, for example, wore surcoats with dragon motifs. Here, cranes, wings open slightly as if beginning to take flight, embellish the center of eight floral-motif roundels. The crane signals that the female owner of the robe was a wife of a lower-ranking imperial noble or official. A similar crane design can also be seen in the sleeve cuffs. A water motif, represented by diagonal stripes of color, embellishes the edges of the sleeve cuffs and hem of the robe.
Object number99.1
Credit LineGift of Mary Robinson in memory of Mimi Robinson Arnold
Dimensions53 7/8 in. (136.84 cm) W., Sleeves: 67 5/8 in.
MediumSilk cloth with embroidery
Woman's surcoat (p'ao)
Chinese
ca. 1850-75
Object number: 99.14
Photo: Paul Macapia
Japanese
Yoke: late 18th and Body: early 20th century
Object number: 89.142
Photo: Paul Macapia
Japanese
late 18th century
Object number: 89.156
P'u-fu (court overcoat)
Chinese
late 19th century
Object number: 78.62
Dragon Robe (Ch'i-fu)
Chinese
ca. 1875
Object number: 90.2
Shawl
Chinese
second half 19th century
Object number: 75.27
Woman's court robe
Chinese
19th-20th century
Object number: 82.152
Mandarin Square
Chinese
1850-1900
Object number: 33.123
Panel of sleeve bands
Chinese
18th - 19th century
Object number: 33.130
Panel fragment
Chinese
1368-1644
Object number: 33.138
Hanging
Chinese
17th century
Object number: 33.158
Vest
Chinese
late 18th century
Object number: 33.166