{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O486113"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O486113/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2021NB9915/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2021NB9915/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2021NB9915","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2021NB9918","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2021NB9916","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2021NB9917","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2006BE6327","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2008BW1467","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2006BE6187","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O486113/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O486113","accessionNumber":"T.241-1963","objectType":"Outer gown","titles":[{"title":"Changyi","type":"generic title"}],"summaryDescription":"Figured silk ribbons provide a striking finishing touch to this red silk outer gown (<i>changyi</i>). Such features were originally foreign imports, but by the 1850s Chinese weavers were able to produce patterned silk ribbons decorated with assorted auspicious designs to suit local taste. In this outer gown, a white-ground ribbon with a woven pattern of plum blossoms, cranes and butterflies -- symbols of beauty and marital bliss -- runs parallel to an embroidered black satin border. At the armpits, two ribbons -- one thick, one narrow -- have been skilfully pleated to ensure a smooth application in delineating the scalloped <i>ruyi</i>-head. \r\nRed silk robes like this were typically worn by young Manchu noblewomen on joyous occasions. The garment is padded for wear in winter and early spring. The silk is embroidered predominantly with botanical motifs, some representative of the season when the robe would be worn, and others symbolising a wish for all good things in life. Plum blossoms, orchids and wisteria symbolise eternal prosperity and enduring spring, while peaches, narcissus and <i>lingzhi</i> are associated with immortality, signifying a birthday wish for long life.\r\n","physicalDescription":"Outer gown (<i>changyi</i>) for a Manchu woman, made of red twill-weave silk with embroidery in coloured silk threads (mainly blue, green and white, with touches of pink and mauve) in satin and stem stitches with a little couched work. The embroidered design consists of flower sprays, including narcissus, prunus blossom, citrus fruits and fungus, with butterflies and flying bats. The robe fastens at the right side with gilt bobbles and loops of black satin ribbon and is slit at each side. All the edges including the cuffs are bordered with a band of black satin embroidered with designs similar to those on the robe and with a band of white silk braid woven with cranes, butterflies and flowers. The borders of the slits are scroll shaped. The robe is padded and lined with blue silk damask woven with the eight Buddhist symbols on a lozenge diaper ground. The insides of the sleeves are lined with white satin embroidered with flower sprays and butterflies.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Unknown","id":"A1848"},"association":{"text":"","id":""},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"silk textile","id":"AAT243428"},{"text":"silk thread","id":"x30127"},{"text":"metallic thread","id":"x30416"}],"techniques":[{"text":"twill-weave","id":"x37297"},{"text":"embroidery","id":"x40351"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Twill-weave silk; embroidery in silk and metallic threads; padded","categories":[{"text":"Clothing","id":"THES48975"},{"text":"Textiles","id":"THES48885"},{"text":"Ceremonial objects","id":"THES48981"},{"text":"Embroidery","id":"THES48960"}],"styles":[{"text":"Qing","id":"AAT18478"},{"text":"Guangxu","id":"AAT18496"}],"collectionCode":{"text":"EAS","id":"THES48596"},"images":["2021NB9915","2021NB9918","2021NB9916","2021NB9917","2006BE6327","2008BW1467","2006BE6187"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"002","id":"THES394842"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Woman's outer gown (changyi)","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"China","id":"x29398"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"1875-1908","earliest":"1875-01-01","latest":"1908-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Given by Sir Richard Tottenham","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Length","value":"135.8","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"143.4","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"including sleeves with cuffs turned back","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Outer gown for a Manchu woman (<i>changyi</i>), twill-weave silk; embroidery in silk and metallic threads, China, Qing dynasty, 1875-1908","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[{"text":"蝴蝶","id":"CIT283662"},{"text":"蝙蝠 (科)","id":"CIT283655"},{"text":"展翅 (動物)","id":"CIT284369"},{"text":"折枝","id":"CIT278682"},{"text":"集卉","id":"CIT280443"},{"text":"水仙","id":"CIT279407"},{"text":"蘭","id":"CIT280897"},{"text":"桃花","id":"CIT0292957"},{"text":"桃實","id":"CIT0292958"},{"text":"梅","id":"CIT279231"},{"text":"植物 (紋飾)","id":"CIT288655"}],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["T.241-1963"],"accessionNumberNum":"241","accessionNumberPrefix":"T","accessionYear":1963,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2025-12-17","recordCreationDate":"2009-06-25","availableToBook":false}}