{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O485431"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O485431/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2024PA3098/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2024PA3098/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2024PA3098","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2024PA3101","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2024PA3141","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2024PA3140","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2024PA3109","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2024PA3103","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2024PA3102","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O485431/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O485431","accessionNumber":"T.272-1923","objectType":"Jacket","titles":[],"summaryDescription":"Worn in the summer by men from the elite class, this undergarment jacket is crafted from tiny bamboo segments threaded on cotton in an openwork pattern. Its ingenious beaded construction allows air to circulate and sweat to evaporate, while also protecting delicate silk robes from perspiration. This design reflects the principles of yangsheng (‘nourishing life’), where clothing played a vital role in preserving health.","physicalDescription":"Jacket for a man worn as an undergarment. It has a central front opening ( with a button and a pair of tying-bands), no collar, long and tight sleeves, straight cuffs, rounded bottom corners, wide openings under the arm-pits. Netted garment with bamboo beads over the cotton yarn, and silk material;  The openwork forms a lozenge diaper, with two bands of hexagons round the waist. ","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Unknown","id":"A1848"},"association":{"text":"","id":""},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"bamboo","id":"AAT11873"},{"text":"cotton yarn","id":"x30425"},{"text":"silk (textile)","id":"AAT243428"}],"techniques":[{"text":"sewing","id":"AAT53658"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Bamboo beads, cotton, silk \r\n(thread that beads are strung on confirmed cotton by microscopy: Nora Brockmann, 01/03/2023)","categories":[{"text":"Textiles","id":"THES48885"},{"text":"Clothing","id":"THES48975"},{"text":"Men's clothes","id":"THES49043"},{"text":"Underwear","id":"THES48880"}],"styles":[{"text":"Qing","id":"AAT18478"}],"collectionCode":{"text":"EAS","id":"THES48596"},"images":["2024PA3098","2024PA3101","2024PA3141","2024PA3140","2024PA3109","2024PA3103","2024PA3102"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"44","id":"THES49802"},"free":"","case":"CA7","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Shirt","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"China","id":"x29398"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"1800-1900","earliest":"1800-01-01","latest":"1900-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Given by Mrs Forster Parsons","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Length","value":"25.75","unit":"in","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"back","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"27.25","unit":"in","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"back, lower end","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"70","unit":"in","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"with sleeves","note":""},{"dimension":"Height","value":"63","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"09/03/2020","earliest":"2020-03-09","latest":"2020-03-09"},"part":"Maximum height, from top of collar to lower hem","note":"Measured by conservation"},{"dimension":"Width","value":"179","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"09/03/2020","earliest":"2020-03-09","latest":"2020-03-09"},"part":"Measured across arms, from sleeve cuff to sleeve cuff","note":"Measured by conservation"},{"dimension":"Width","value":"1700","unit":"mm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"19/09/2024","earliest":"2024-09-19","latest":"2024-09-19"},"part":"Full width across sleeves","note":"<b>After conservation, measured by textile conservation</b>"},{"dimension":"Height","value":"620","unit":"mm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"19/09/2024","earliest":"2024-09-19","latest":"2024-09-19"},"part":"Full height from hem to shoulders, excluding ties","note":"<b>After conservation, measured by textile conservation</b>"}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"Registered File number 1923/8166. Stated by the donor to have come from Beijing. \r\nV.Garrett ' Chinese clothing, an illustrated guide, 1994, p79.80\r\nDating back to the Ming dynasty was the bamboo vest or jacket, which was worn in the hot weather up to the beginning of this century. Bamboo clothing is made from the finest branches of the tree, worn in summer next to the skin to keep the light cotton shirt of inner jacket from irritation the skin when moist from perspiration.Made like a large jacket with a centre front opening, it was constructed from tiny pieces of hollow bamboo sewn together in a diagonal pattern. The effect of this open-work construction was like that of a moderne string vest: it trapped the air, kept the wearer cool and dry in the hot weather and protected the outer clothing.","historicalContext":"This kind of openwork shirt would have been worn under a silk garment in summer time, to avoid the perspiration.","briefDescription":"Jacket for a man worn as an undergarment, bamboo beads, cotton, silk, China, Qing dynasty, 1800-1900","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[{"text":"JACKET FOR A MAN\r\n1800–1900, Qing dynasty\n\r\nWorn in the summer by men from the elite class, this undergarment jacket is crafted from tiny bamboo segments threaded on cotton in an openwork pattern. Its ingenious beaded construction allows air to circulate and sweat to evaporate, while also protecting delicate silk robes from perspiration. This design reflects the principles of <i>yangsheng</i> (‘nourishing life’), where clothing played a vital role in preserving health.\n\r\nBamboo beads, cotton, silk\n\r\nGiven by Mrs Forster Parsons\r\nMuseum no. T.272-1923\r\n\n清晚期  竹衣","date":{"text":"28/10/2025","earliest":"2025-10-28","latest":"2025-10-28"}}],"partNumbers":["T.272-1923"],"accessionNumberNum":"272","accessionNumberPrefix":"T","accessionYear":1923,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2026-01-16","recordCreationDate":"2009-06-25","availableToBook":false}}