Framed Chinese Embroidered Silk Collar Qing Dynasty

Description

A silk collar from China dated to late Qing Dynasty circa 19th century. Known as Yunjian (Cloud Shoulder or Cloud … more A silk collar from China dated to late Qing Dynasty circa 19th century. Known as Yunjian (Cloud Shoulder or Cloud Collar), this two-tiered, five-lobed textile piece was a detachable collar worn around the shoulders as part of the traditional Chinese garment accessory. With its origin dated back to the Han Dynasty and being used until the end of Qing Dynasty, the form evolves with time, but much of the ornamentation and fundamental symbolism remains the same.
This beautiful example features a five large and elaborate outer petals linked to the inner stripes with stone beads of jade and coral colors. The upper portion of the large petal features the shape of auspicious "ruyi", which represents the head of Lingzhi mushroom, a symbol of longevity. The lower portion features various symbols and fish (abundance), bat (good luck), lotus flower (purity) and a centered tiger face (power), suggesting that this may be a festival accessory for a boy. The needle work used to create the embroidery includes chain stiches and long and short satin stitches. The piece as a whole has a bright and vibrant color combination.
In Qing Dynasty, the silk collar with high quality was worn by noble or aristocratic women and sometimes children. The subtle use of certain symbol may be the telltale sign of the occasion, in this case, the tiger face.
The collar is beautifully float mounted within a double conforming mat with gold trim in a wood frame. A tastefully presented period piece with story to tell.
Reference: For a collection of Chinese embroidered collars, see page 736-745 of book "Imperial Silks Ch'ing Dynasty Textile in the Minneapolis Institute of Arts". less