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...

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 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...

Exceptionally rare baby blanket from the Tujia weavers of Longshan County, Hunan Province, China. I have been looking for one of these for years and this is the first complete blanket I have ever found, albeit the lower two border panels come from a different piece. This incorporates the unique white tiger motif (see enlargement #3) which is believed to give the baby protection. For the Tujia the white Tiger is a totemic ancestor deity...

This Chinese ethnic child's hat has wrapped thread embroidery technique which was used by the Miao the Miao minority. The set of silver ornaments across the from are Buddha images. the The ornament in the back is a stylized butterfly of Miao Legend...the dangle of bells at the back is to scare off evil spirits who would attack the child from the rear..This hat is old and in surprisingly good condition

This pair of antique Miao boots were made by a young woman from Song Tao to be worn for festivals. The thick sole has iron hob nails to make walking easier on the hills and terraces. The vamp is made from cotton fabric and is heavily embroidered with cottton thread using satin and chain stitch techniques. The upper part of the boot is also made of cotton fabric.

A knitting work was well framed as a hanging piece.
It was in a scenery of a fairy lady sitting in a garden full of metaphoric plants and animals.
The whole picture was in good meaning.

Date: Qing Dynasty, 19th Century.

Dimensions with frame : 28.4cm x28. 4cm

Gorgeous old silk brocade supplementary weft embroidered on cotton backing from the Mulao ethnic group, circa first half 20th CE. The foundation is woven with handspun blue cotton threads and silk weft embroidered, phoenix, butterfly and floral images against a “key fret” background. L: 109cm/42in and W: 68cm/26in (with cotton border L: 128cm/50in and W: 83cm/32in)...

A pair of silk applique roundels for a robe mounted on paper, embroidered in Peking knot and gold thread. Showing auspicious symbols and bats, dating to the late Qing period. Condition: slightly faded. Dimension: 20 cm diameter.

Almost square hand-made embroidery. On a background of green satin silk two lion dogs, or foo dogs, are playing with a ball and each other between peonies and other flowers, next to a rock formation, a bat in the upper right corner. They are embroidered by hand with bright colors of silk in straight stiches and looped stiches, the lions detailed and outlined with gold-thread, which are twisted silk threads wrapped in thin gold foil...

Mid 20th century textile from the Mulao ethnic group Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Province. This is a two paneled blanket with original border and supplementary weft silk embroidered pattern phoenix and flowers on a cotton field “key fret” pattern- all handspun threads. Good condition - no holes or missing embroidery threads. L: 110cm/43in and W: 66cm/cm/26in- with blue cotton border L: 153cm/59in and W: 110cm/43on.

Clearly made by an adoring grandmother, this antique Dong Minority hat is covered with a variety of ornate embroidery stitches including both wrapped thread and couching techniques. The hat is topped with silver half beads representing bubbles and a large top knot.. It is a bid dirty which would be expected in a childs hat of this age and use.

This absolutely charming pair of baby booties is from the late Qing dynasty. They are made of silk satin ivory colored fabric and have a large satin stitched butterfly on each side. The front of the booties have an appliqued butterfly with tassles and pompoms. They are in pristine condition with the exception of the one missing pompom on one bootie.

This old Chinese silk hat would have been owned and worn by a gentleman of some financial means. The gold fretted trim was expensive and used on both mens and woman's clothing of the during late Qing dynasty. There is some blue trim fabric lost as shown in the pictures. The hat is lined with red cotton fabric and has writing in 2 of the 6 sections.

A bride of the Yi Chinese Ethnic Minority in Yunnan Province, would have worn the "cock" hat for her wedding day. The hat is made using layers of cotton fabric with a stiffiner between the layers to maintain the shape. Using colorful cotton thread, hat was extravagantly hand embroidered. A few traditional silver ornaments including the bubble, flower and butterfly were added.

Now, it is the very lucky Yi girl who can use her great grandmother's bridal hat for her own wedding...

This lovely small woman's purse was made from silk satin fabric and embroidered with silk thread useing the satin stitch. The purse still has the original silk ribbon attached to the bottom, and belt loop attached at the top.

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...

Beautiful old Zhuang minority textile from Guangxi Zhuang/Guizhou province, China. Woven in two panels with silk embroidered “diamond and star” patterned border, "wanzi" swastika key fret and well symbols...

This small embroidered wallet style purse would have been used by a traditional Han Chinese woman to carry coins during the Qing dynasty. There are pockets on each side of the purse. And the all satin stitched embroidery is also on each side of the wallet.

This wonderful pair of lotus shoes are typical of boots from Shandong. They have a black cuff with hand-embroidered butterfly motif and the remanents of a thin pink woven band. The blue vamp is somewhat faded toward the front of the boot and has delicately embroidered butterfly on each side. The soles have worn leather heels. The inside silk lining is bright pink and in very good condition.

A fine antique Chinese child's collar with stitch work and fine knitting on the edge. The shawl collar is decorated with auspicious motifs of bats, butterflies, geese, and flowers. The collar is often seen in Chinese fashion during the Qing Dynasty where women wore the collars during formal or auspicious occasions. Age: Qing-Republic Period Size: length 18.5" height 16"

1800s

This civil official's rank badge is embroidered on silk with silk and metallic wrapped silk threads, and has a medium blue woven silk backing. There is splitting to the silk background and loose metallic threads, as well as some losses to the silk backing.

Length: 17 1/2 in., Width: 9 in.

Very rare early 20th century textile from the Mulao ethnic group Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Province. Little is known about these textiles other than they show a close affinity with Maonan weavings and are no longer being woven by this people. This is a two paneled blanket with original border and supplementary weft silk and cotton embroidered pattern of birds, mythical animals and flowers on a cotton field “key fret” pattern...

Adorable and whimsical antique baby's hat in the image of a Chinese lion, made of teal silk with golden stitched flowers and swirled designs, side panels in black silk with stitched koi fish in bright multicolors, black back panel with embroidered butterflies, a beautiful, deep purple back flap with gold stitching and an embroidered bird sitting under flowers. The hat's interior is bright red silk...

This old Chinese Miao ethnic minority child's hat is thickly padded for winter wearing. The red silk fabric with silk thread satin stitch embroidery really stands out. One silver butterfly ornament decorates the back of the hat and provides noise to protect the child from evil spirits. a bit dirty but hat is in very good condition.

Chinese black silk embroidered panel with a very finely rendered butterfly over a peony. The small bright orange embroidery is the forbidden stitch. In very good condition with colors still true, only the piping showing signs of wear. No staining on the embroidered side. Measures 18.5" (47 cm) long x 9.75" (24.8 cm) wide.

This antique beaded headband is from Guang Dong province in China, and is typical of headgear worn by Chinese woman around the turn of the 19th-20th century. It would have been worn the narrow portion across the forehead, with the rounded flap portions covering the ears and fastened in the back of the head.

Fine old all and spun and hand woven wedding blanket from the tiny Maonan minority group living in Guangxi and Guizhou province, circa 1940 to 1960. This piece is very crisply silk weft embroidered classic butterfly, phoenix and floral pattern. Excellent condition. The border is made of an outer hand spun cotton cloth will the red inner border is commercial cloth. L: 94cm/37in and W: 65cm/25.5in- total with border L: 149cm/58.6 and W: 94cm/37in.Free shipping

This antique Chinese hat would have been worn by a child and probably made and embroidered by a grandparent. This hat is old and has unusual silver ornaments in the front. Condition is pristine with the exception that the large round silver ornament decoration is missing 2 small prongs, and the silk ribbon bordering the extension of the wind cover for protecting the back of the childs neck also has some deterioration areas.

A Pair of Chinese Sleeve Bands. The cream silk embroidered with ladies in garden settings. L19thC. Length: 89.0 cm, Length of embroidery 47.0 cm. Condition: light staining

A fine applique panel mounted on gold foil, embroidered in tiny Peking knot and gold thread. Showing a big cat in a landscape, in an old European frame with antique finish. Condition: little faded. Dimension total: 27 cm x 19.5 cm.

This traditional antique Chinese childs top was made using a fine, deep royal blue damask silk with black silk trim. From a wealthy family, this top was padded for winter use, has all the original frog and monkey fist knot closures, and a hand embroidered rondel with lots of couching and seed stitches (aka forbidden stitch)

By the latter part of the 19th century the ruling Qings were obsessed with every last detail of dress. This antique top grain leather fan case could only have been owned by very wealthy Chinese woman.

This is a wonderful Qing Dynasty child's hat from Shui minority group in the Rong Jiang area. It is traditional looking Chinese cap style made with silk fabric and silk split thread embroidery, and top knot. This hat is over 100 years old, and has wonderfully soft patina, and shows some wear. Truely charming

This well used pair of Chinese woman's Lotus shoes for bound feet has embroidered satin stitch floral motif on both sides of the toe. The soles have nice stitch detail

This Chinese lady's purse was made with silk satin fabric and hand embroidered with silk thread using a satin embroidery stitch. The edges are bound with carefully aligned silk threads. Each side opens to a separate storage compartment and there is a third compartment which is accessed from the top of the purse...