{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O121546"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O121546/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2021NB1701/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2021NB1701/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"low","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2021NB1701","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2006BB1344","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2006AP7891","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2021NB1700","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2021NB1702","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":null},"record":{"systemNumber":"O121546","accessionNumber":"FE.52-1997","objectType":"Qipao","titles":[],"summaryDescription":"The <i>qipao</i> was traditionally the costume of the Manchu people, and the style was adopted by Chinese women from the Qing Dynasty. By the twentieth century the shapes and styles of the traditional dress were changing. One of the adaptations made was to shorten it and tailor it more sharply so that it outlined the contours of the body, allowing freer movement. \r\n\r\nThe <i>qipao</i>, or <i>cheongsam</i> as it is also known, became fashionable amongst women, especially those living in urban areas. To some, the <i>qipao</i> was a risqué garment because it exposed female flesh and accentuated the curves of the body. It is often associated with the high life of Shanghai and its glamour, and the style was popularised by cinema and the advertising industry.\r\n\r\nThis dress is made from grey satin. It is lined with lightweight grey plain silk and edged in narrow grey satin. It has short sleeves and a stand-up, stiffened collar fastened with a hook and eye. The front panel is decorated with asymmetric lilies which are embroidered onto the satin in red with white centres and grey and white foliage. The design curls down from the left shoulder, across the top front, and down across the skirt section. There is a spray with a red lily bud embroidered on either side of the collar front. \r\n\r\nThe dress is closed with press-studs across the collarbone to the right and down under the arm where there is then a zip-fastener in the side seam. There are bust darts at the front and waist darts at the back only.","physicalDescription":"Woman's dress (<i>cheongsam</i> or <i>qipao</i>) of grey silk satin ground embroidered in red, grey, white floss silks in satin stitch. The front panel is decorated with asymmetric lilies, grey and white foliage. The design curls down from the left shoulder, across the top front, and down across the skirt section. There is a spray of red lily buds embroidered on either side of the collar front.\r\nThe dress is a mid calf length garment with slits at the sides (c. 25 cm). The dress has a  press-stud fastening on the right side and a zip-fastener in the side seam. It has short sleeves and a high, stiff stand-up collar that fastens with a hook and eye. The garment is fitted to the waist and chest, with bust darts at the front and waist darts at the back only. The dress is lined throughout with light weight grey plain woven silk lining.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Unknown","id":"A1848"},"association":{"text":"","id":""},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"silk (textile)","id":"AAT243428"}],"techniques":[{"text":"embroidered","id":"AAT53653"},{"text":"satin weave","id":"x37324"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Satin-weave silk; embroidery in silk threads","categories":[{"text":"Textiles","id":"THES48885"},{"text":"Embroidery","id":"THES48960"},{"text":"Womenswear","id":"THES49044"},{"text":"Day wear","id":"THES49000"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"EAS","id":"THES48596"},"images":["2021NB1701","2006BB1344","2006AP7891","2021NB1700","2021NB1702"],"imageResolution":"low","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"ARAIL","id":"THES394906"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Qipao","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Hong Kong","id":"x30049"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"1950s","earliest":"1950-01-01","latest":"1959-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Given by Richard A. and Janey M.Y. Cheu, in memory of Dr Henry D. Cheu","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Length","value":"115","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"The dress belonged to Alice Cheu (1914-1979) and was donated by her stepson and step daughter-in-law (Richard and Janey Cheu) to the museum.","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Dress for a woman (<i>qipao</i>), satin-weave silk; embroidery in silk threads, Hong Kong, 1950s","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"Unique","id":"THES48864"},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[{"text":"Zhang, Daqian","id":"N4918"}],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[{"text":"lilies","id":"x35226"}],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["FE.52-1997"],"accessionNumberNum":"52","accessionNumberPrefix":"FE","accessionYear":1997,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2025-10-02","recordCreationDate":"2006-02-28","availableToBook":false}}