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Badge

Date17th century
Label TextInsignia badges, a late 14th-century innovation, signaled official rank. Animals such as the leopard, tiger, rhinoceros, and sea horse stood for military rank. The qilin, a mythical creature with a two-horned dragon's head, a fishlike scaly body, cloven hoofs and a broad tail, was the insignia for nobility in the Ming dynasty. During the Qing, it became the first rank emblem for military officers.
Object number33.140
Exhibition HistorySeattle, Washington, Seattle Art Museum, Going For Gold, November 3, 2012 - December 8, 2013 Seattle, Washington, Seattle Art Museum, The Patterns of Fiber: Textiles from the Seattle Art Museum Collection, December 18, 1980-March 1, 1981 Seattle, Washington, Seattle Asian Art Museum, Woven Symbols: Chinese Garments and Textiles, April 1, 1999
Credit LineEugene Fuller Memorial Collection
Dimensions13 3/8 x 14 1/4 in. (33.97 x 36.2 cm) Overall h.: 17 in. Overall w.: 16 3/8 in.
MediumSilk, peacock feather, and gold thread embroidery
Photo: Paul Macapia
Chinese
17th century
Object number: 33.141
Imperial robe
Chinese
19th century
Object number: 92.134
Badge
Chinese
late 19th century
Object number: 48.151
Embroidered blue satin hanging
Chinese
18th - 19th century
Object number: 33.125
Photo: Paul Macapia
Japanese
late 18th century
Object number: 89.156
P'u-fu (court overcoat)
Chinese
late 19th century
Object number: 78.62
Woman's surcoat (p'ao)
Chinese
ca. 1850-75
Object number: 99.14
Dragon Robe (Ch'i-fu)
Chinese
ca. 1875
Object number: 90.2
Court robe (qifu)
Chinese
ca.1875-90
Object number: 42.7
Mandarin Square
Chinese
1850-1900
Object number: 33.123