Catalog: Antiques: Regional Art: Asian: Chinese: Textiles (9)

Late Qing Dynasty (1890s to 1911) embroidered Chinese textile rank badge (also called mandarin square) denoting the third civil rank symbolized by the bird on the badge - the Peacock. Designs on background include peach, pomegranate, fish, shell and bats in flight among clouds and above the fungus of Immortality over the waves. Keyfret borders with peach, pomegranate and Buddha’s hand citron motifs, colors slightly faded, newer black velvet backing. Size 9x9.5 inches.

19th century Chinese textile rank badge (also called mandarin square) denoting the fourth civil rank symbolized by the bird on the badge - the Cloud Goose. The piece is perfectly rectangular - shape distortions are from photography...

19th century Chinese textile rank badge (also called mandarin square) denoting the fifth civil rank symbolized by the bird on the badge - the Silver Pheasant, made for the back of an official’s robe. The bird is embroidered on separate fabric, which is sewn on top of the background - the idea behind that is that as one advances in ranks, the old bird is removed, and the bird corresponding to the next rank is sewn on the background, thus recycling the square itself...

19th century Chinese textile rank badge (also called mandarin square) denoting the fourth civil rank symbolized by the bird on the badge - the Cloud Goose. The bird is embroidered on separate fabric, which is sewn on top of the background - the idea behind that is that as one advances in ranks, the old bird is removed, and the bird corresponding to the next rank is sewn on the background, thus recycling the square itself...

19th century Chinese textile rank badge (also called mandarin square) denoting the fifth civil rank symbolized by the bird on the badge - the Silver Pheasant. The badge is made for the front of an official’s robe and consists of 2 vertical halves allowing the garment to be opened, currently sawn together...

Late 19th century Chinese textile rank badge (also called mandarin square) denoting the fifth civil rank symbolized by the bird on the badge - the Silver Pheasant. The bird is embroidered on separate fabric, which is sewn on top of the background - the idea behind that is that as one advances in ranks, the old bird is removed, and the bird corresponding to the next rank is sewn on the background, thus recycling the square itself...

19th century Chinese textile rank badge (also called mandarin square) denoting the fifth civil rank symbolized by the bird on the badge - the Silver Pheasant. The bird is embroidered on separate fabric, which is sewn on top of the background - the idea behind that is that as one advances in ranks, the old bird is removed, and the bird corresponding to the next rank is sewn on the background, thus recycling the square itself...

19th century Chinese textile kesi rank badge (also called mandarin square) from the back of an official’s robe. The badge dates from early to mid-19th century, and denotes the ninth civil rank symbolized by the bird on the badge - the Paradise Flycatcher. Numerous woven designs include sun, rocks among waves and clouds, bats in flight, fungus of Immortality, peaches, peonies, lotus flowers and other Emblems of the 8 Immortals, Buddhist Emblems and Eight Treasures...

19th century framed Chinese textile embroidered rank badge (also called mandarin square) denoting the fifth civil rank symbolized by the bird on the badge - the Silver Pheasant. Did not photograph well - faint pinkish lines are from photography and the colors are brighter than they look on the images. Designs on the background include rocks among waves, sun and bat in flight among swirling clouds, some of the Treasures of the Immortals and the Buddhists...