Pair of Framed Mid 19th Century Chinese Qing Dynasty Embroidered Peacock Third Rank Badge

Description

A rare pair of finely embroidered silk civil rank badge panel framed in a black carved wood frame circa late … more A rare pair of finely embroidered silk civil rank badge panel framed in a black carved wood frame circa late Qing dynasty (mid-late 19th century). The square rank badge is known in Chinese as Buzi which was displayed in the front and back of the official robe to indicate one's rank status. The design is centered by a peacock with long and colorful tail plumage, perched on a rock in above the Li-Shui wave pattern, lavishly embroidered with gold and silver metallic threads. Peacock is the symbol of the third rank official in the court of Qing Dynasty. The composition of panel the bird looks up at a full sun on its upper right indicate that this pair used to belong to a front and back robe of the wife of a male official. The elaborate needle work on this pair is particularly impressive. The bird with spread wings and polychromed feathers is surrounded by scrolling clouds with eight Buddhism treasures, mostly rendered in a monochrome gold thread. This created a visually interesting contrast. It is further surrounded by a wide border with woven archaic form of character "Shou" longevity, alternated with Bat symbol (Fu represents fortune). Very fine long and short satin stiches of multi-color threads were used for the peacock imagery and the wave pattern. The surrounding clouds, treasures and sun symbol and borders were mostly achieved with chain stiches.
An original pair of Peacock rank badge, these pieces exhibit very fine workmanship and quite possibly from a mid Qing dynasty. They were housed in an old black wood frames and collected in an old estate in America.
For a similar third rank badge, see Accession Number 30.75.938 and 30.75.902 in the collection of the Metropolitan Musuem of Art. less