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  • A richly decorated robe with broad sleeves, with intricate embroidery of cranes in flight, colorful blossoms, and geometric patterns against a shimmering gold border, framing a blue center.
  • An intricately decorated gold garment with an elaborate pattern of flying cranes, floating clouds, and vibrant floral designs, centered around a medallion.
  • A richly decorated robe with broad sleeves, with intricate embroidery of cranes in flight, colorful blossoms, and geometric patterns against a shimmering gold border, framing a blue center.
  • A close up of a yellow textile with visible seams and fibers and an affixed label with handwritten characters.
  • A richly decorated robe with broad sleeves, with intricate embroidery of cranes in flight, colorful blossoms, and geometric patterns against a shimmering gold border, framing a blue center.
  • An intricately decorated gold garment with an elaborate pattern of flying cranes, floating clouds, and vibrant floral designs, centered around a medallion.
  • A richly decorated robe with broad sleeves, with intricate embroidery of cranes in flight, colorful blossoms, and geometric patterns against a shimmering gold border, framing a blue center.
  • An intricately decorated gold garment with an elaborate pattern of flying cranes, floating clouds, and vibrant floral designs, centered around a medallion.
  • An embroidered cloud motif in multiple colors, bordered by circular gold discs, set against a gold mesh background.
  • A turtle with an elongated neck and a mythical deer-like creature in blue with orange flames, prance among green waves beneath multicolored, swirling clouds, set against a gold mesh background.
  • A multicolored mythical bird with ornate outstretched wings and swirling feathers set against a gold mesh background.
  • A close up of an embroidered garment, depicting a gold-lined border with colorful mythical creatures, cloud motifs and floral patterns.
  • A richly embroidered textile with a deep blue panel bordered by multicolored embroidery of mythical creatures, clouds, and geometric patterns.
  • An embroidered circular emblem on a garment, depicting an elegant, multi-tiered structure with cranes, multicolored cloud motifs, and golden medallions.
  • A close up of an ornate blue garment with a gold trimmed border featuring embroidered dragons.
  • A circular motif depicting a golden pavilion resting on layered white and green clouds, embroidered on a gold mesh background.
  • A close up of an embroidered textile featuring a swirling multicolored cloud set against a gold mesh background, bordered by gold trim encasing more clouds.
  • A close up of an embroidered textile, featuring stylized clouds in shades of blue, green, orange, and purple against a dark mesh backdrop.
  • An embroidered design depicting swirling clouds with a curved arch in multiple colors, set against a gold lattice background.
  • A richly embroidered garment made of deep blue fabric framed by golden borders with multicolored embroidery of mythical creatures and swirling clouds.
  • A blue-scaled dragon with a playful expression, flowing whiskers and orange limbs emerges from rippling, green waves, set against a gold mesh background.
  • A close up of an embroidered, swirling cloud motif in shades of blue, green, orange, and yellow, set against a gold lattice background.
  • A close up of an embroidered textile with layered cloud motifs in soft blues, purples, and yellow set against a gold lattice background.
  • A close-up of an embroidered textile depicting birds in flight, surrounded by golden circular motifs and colorful swirling clouds.
  • A close up of an ornate blue garment framed by a gold border with detailed dragon and cloud embroidery.
  • A richly embroidered garment with depictions of cranes and cloud motifs surrounding a central circular motif.
  • Detailed embroidery of birds in flight, surrounded by colorful cloud motifs, set against a gold lattice background.
  • A mythical deer-like creature, with purple spots and orange strands extending out, prancing among rippling green waves beneath multicolored, swirling clouds, set against a gold mesh background.
  • A close up of an embroidered swirling cloud motif in pastel shades of blue, green, and purple, set against a gold lattice background.
  • A close up of an embroidered white crane with outstretched wings, a red crown, and green legs, soaring against a gold lattice background.
  • An embroidered circular emblem featuring a mythical creature, surrounded by multicolored swirling clouds and golden medallions, set on gold mesh.
  • Embroidered multicolored birds soaring around ornate, multicolored clouds, set against a gold lattice background.
  • A close-up of deep blue fabric with a subtle woven pattern of animal figures, accented by a gold and black border.
  • An embroidered white crane with orange and black details, outstretched wings, and long slender legs, surrounded by swirling clouds on a gold lattice background.
  • An embroidered medallion depicting a pavilion above stylized waves, framed by multicolored clouds, set on a gold mesh background.
  • An embroidered textile depicting blue and white winged creatures soaring amidst multicolored swirling clouds, set against a gold mesh background.
  • A close up of a dark blue fabric with a repeating motif of woven animal figures.
  • A close up of an ornate blue garment framed by gold borders with embroidery of dragons and cloud motifs.
  • A richly embroidered textile with a deep blue panel bordered by multicolored embroidery of mythical creatures, clouds, and geometric patterns.
  • An intricate embroidered medallion depicting a rooster perched on a rooftop, framed by swirling clouds and set on gold lattice.
  • An embroidered cloud motif, stitched in blue, green, purple, and gold, on a gold mech background.
  • The collar of a richly embroidered garment with gold-threaded designs, multicolored cloud motifs, and mythical creatures.
  • Embroidered textile with a deep blue background featuring a circular celestial motif and pastel colored clouds, bordered by panels with cranes.
  • An intricate blue textile framed by a golden border and multicolored embroidery of mythical creatures, clouds, and geometric patterns.
  • A close up of an ornate blue garment with a gold-edged border adorned with intricate crane and cloud designs.
  • A symmetrical, embroidered design depicting two cranes, multicolored clouds, gold medallions, and phoenixes, set against a golden mesh.
  • A close-up of an embroidered textile, depicting a vibrant winged creature in flight, amidst colorful swirling clouds, set against a golden mesh background.
  • An intricate blue textile framed by a golden border and multicolored embroidery of mythical creatures, clouds, and geometric patterns.
  • A close up of an embroidered garment depicting a gold-lined border with colorful mythical creatures, cloud motifs, and floral patterns.
  • A close up of an embroidered circular emblem depicting a stylized mountain and vessel with ornate cloud details, set against a gold lattice background.

Unknown Maker, Chinese

Jiangyi (robe of descent)

Maker

Unknown Maker, Chinese

Culture

Chinese

Title

Jiangyi (robe of descent)

Year

1800s

Medium

  • silk,
  • gilt paper,
  • metallic-wrapped yarn; compound weave,
  • embroidered

Materials/Techniques

Techniques

  • Silk,
  • gilt paper,
  • metallic-wrapped yarn; compound weave,
  • embroidered

Materials

silk, gilt paper

Geography

Place Made: China

Dimensions

Center back length: 137.8 cm (54 1/4 inches)

Credit / Object Number

Credit

Gift of Miss Lucy T. Aldrich

Object Number

35.416

Type

  • Costume

Publications

  • Books

A World of Costume and Textiles: A Handbook of the Collection

Exhibition History

From the Land of the Immortals
Chinese Taoist Robes and Textiles
Jan 13, 2012 – Apr 22, 2012

Label copy

This robe of descent is distinguished by the elaborate lattice pattern formed by gold-wrapped yarn embroidered on the blue-figured silk ground fabric. Out of this

golden network spring colorful embroidered renditions of the palaces of the Three Purities, sun and moon, fivestoried tower, constellations, symbols of the five sacred

mountains, cranes, and phoenixes. On the front center flaps are embroidered a dragon (wearer left) and a tiger (wearer right). These two animals are associated with

the eastern and the western directions, respectively, and probably refer to two large circumpolar constellations, known as the Green Dragon and the White Tiger, which marked the rising and setting of the sun. The bottom band shows images of the turtle and the snake (which together mark the north) alongside other dragons and horses that float above the green waves. The symbol for the southern direction (a red bird) is not visible here, but may have been marked by the priest’s headdress.

The Seductive Stitch
Asian Embroidery
Dec 15, 1995 – Mar 10, 1996

Image use

The images on this website can enable discovery and collaboration and support new scholarship, and we encourage their use.

Public Domain This object is in the Public Domain and available under a CC0 1.0 Universal (CC0 1.0) Public Domain Dedication

Tombstone

Unknown Maker, Chinese
Jiangyi (robe of descent), 1800s
Silk, gilt paper, metallic-wrapped yarn; compound weave, embroidered
Center back length: 137.8 cm (54 1/4 inches)
Gift of Miss Lucy T. Aldrich 35.416

To request new photography, please send an email to imagerequest@risd.edu and include your name and the object's accession number.

Feedback

We view our online collection as a living documents, and our records are frequently revised and enhanced. If you have additional information or have spotted an error, please send feedback to curatorial@risd.edu.

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