Difference between revisions of "V&A T.187-1948, Woman's robe of weft-pattern woven silk, China (early 18th century)"

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== Artifact Information ==
 
== Artifact Information ==
  
The robe is made of gauze-banded plain weave silk with embroidery. This robe is a woman's garment that may be the earliest non-ecclesiastical Chinese garment in the Museum. The grand is a rich red silk that has horizontal bands of fruiting pomegranates (symbolizing a woman with many kids) in gauze weave running across the fabric at widely spaced intervals. Over this, there is shiny embroidered decoration of fruits, flowers, birds and mythical beasts [1].
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A women's woven silk with supplementary weft patterning robe (with design of sky, earth and water, 9 large five-clawed dragons pursuing and clasping the sacred discs among clouds in green, blue, red, yellow and brown silks and gold thread, Lined with pink figured silk) is unlike the other Chinese women's garments in the Museum, but the curators and conservators of V&A museum knew from 18th-century pictorial sources that it was very fashionable at the time. It is front-fastening, whereas many other robes fasten to one side. Its decoration was undertaken on the loom as weaving techniques advanced, rather than being added later in the form of embroidery. The particular layout of the dragon motifs also marks it out from other garments in the V&A's collection [1].
  
 
Victoria and Albert Museum, London, UK T.187-1948
 
Victoria and Albert Museum, London, UK T.187-1948
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== Summary of results ==
 
== Summary of results ==
  
[[File:VA result.PNG|center|frame|Analytical results by Jing Han [2]]]
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[[File:Reulst V&A T187-1948.PNG|center|frame|Analytical results by Jing Han [2]]]
  
Traditionally used Chinese dyes, [http://cameo.mfa.org/wiki/Pagoda_tree_(Styphnolobium_japonicum)_LC pagoda tree buds], [http://cameo.mfa.org/wiki/Turmeric_(Curcuma_longa)_LC turmeric] and safflower had been identified as the dyeing sources of this Chinese woman's robe [2]. Berberine was found in sample 2, a green thread from the pattern. Quite a few plants can generate berberine as a yellow dye [3]. The most widely used were Phellodenrom spices, for example[http://cameo.mfa.org/wiki/Amur_cork_tree_(Phellodendrom_amurense_Rupr._Rutaceae)_LC Amer cork tree] and Chuan Huang Bo (Huangbo from Sichuan).
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Traditionally used Chinese dyes, [http://cameo.mfa.org/wiki/Pagoda_tree_(Styphnolobium_japonicum)_LC pagoda tree buds], sappanwood and safflower had been identified as the dyeing sources of this Chinese woman's robe [2]. Berberine was found in sample 5,8,9 and 11. Quite a few plants can generate berberine as a yellow dye [3]. The most widely used were Phellodenrom spices, for example [http://cameo.mfa.org/wiki/Amur_cork_tree_(Phellodendrom_amurense_Rupr._Rutaceae)_LC Amer cork tree] and [http://cameo.mfa.org/wiki/Chinese_cork_tree_(Phellodendron_chinense)_LC Chinese cork tree].
  
 
== References ==
 
== References ==
  
[1] https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O72026/robe-unknown/
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[1] https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O73570/robe-unknown/
  
 
[2] Jing Han, The Historical and chemical investigation of dyes in high status Chinese costume and textiles of the Ming and Qing Dynasties (1368-1911) PhD thesis, University of Glasgow February 2016.
 
[2] Jing Han, The Historical and chemical investigation of dyes in high status Chinese costume and textiles of the Ming and Qing Dynasties (1368-1911) PhD thesis, University of Glasgow February 2016.

Latest revision as of 13:37, 31 August 2017

Artifact Information

A women's woven silk with supplementary weft patterning robe (with design of sky, earth and water, 9 large five-clawed dragons pursuing and clasping the sacred discs among clouds in green, blue, red, yellow and brown silks and gold thread, Lined with pink figured silk) is unlike the other Chinese women's garments in the Museum, but the curators and conservators of V&A museum knew from 18th-century pictorial sources that it was very fashionable at the time. It is front-fastening, whereas many other robes fasten to one side. Its decoration was undertaken on the loom as weaving techniques advanced, rather than being added later in the form of embroidery. The particular layout of the dragon motifs also marks it out from other garments in the V&A's collection [1].

Victoria and Albert Museum, London, UK T.187-1948

© Victoria and Albert Museum, London UK T.184-1948

Summary of results

Analytical results by Jing Han [2]

Traditionally used Chinese dyes, pagoda tree buds, sappanwood and safflower had been identified as the dyeing sources of this Chinese woman's robe [2]. Berberine was found in sample 5,8,9 and 11. Quite a few plants can generate berberine as a yellow dye [3]. The most widely used were Phellodenrom spices, for example Amer cork tree and Chinese cork tree.

References

[1] https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O73570/robe-unknown/

[2] Jing Han, The Historical and chemical investigation of dyes in high status Chinese costume and textiles of the Ming and Qing Dynasties (1368-1911) PhD thesis, University of Glasgow February 2016.