Mandarin Square

52-23-88B

From: China

Curatorial Section: Asian

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Native Name Buzi (補子)
Object Number 52-23-88B
Current Location Collections Storage
Culture Chinese
Provenience China
Period Qing Dynasty
Date Made Late 18th Century - Early 20th Century
Section Asian
Materials Silk
Technique Embroidered | Tapestry Weave | Kesi
Iconography Bear | Eight Taoist Symbols | Eight Buddhist Symbols | Eight Jewels | Li Shui | Bats
Description

Fifth rank military bear square for wife of officer. Late kesi with much paint, very coarse tarnished gold thread background. Over-conventionalized flowers. Border of continuous swastikas. The Chinese term for swastika is 萬 wan, meaning "myriad" (lit. 'ten thousand') and is meant to invoke the infinite blessings or wishes for happiness for the wearer of the badge. The bottom edge has the 立水 li shui ('standing water') design denoting deep water.

Height 29.4 cm
Width 29.7 cm
Credit Line Purchased from J. S. Letcher, 1952

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