{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O74413"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O74413/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2021MY2921/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2021MY2921/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2021MY2921","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2021MY2922","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2021MY2920","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2006AP7882","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2019MH9757","copyright":"©Victoria & Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2019MH9759","copyright":"©Victoria & Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O74413/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O74413","accessionNumber":"FE.48-1997","objectType":"Qipao","titles":[],"summaryDescription":"Embroidery that adorned evening dresses often incorporated beadwork or sequins. The front panel of this <i>qipao</i> is decorated with asymmetric fronds cascading from the left shoulder, across the front, and straight down the side of the skirt to the right. The fronds are formed of iridescent black sequins, applied onto the black silk, with a tassel of black beads dangling from each one. The same small beads are applied in swirling lines, linking the fronds. \nThe dress, which would have been worn with high heels, gloves and a beaded handbag, exemplifies the intricate skills of the embroiderers and the ingenuity of tailors. The overall effect was designed to make the wearer stand out from the glamorous throng at a dinner or a cocktail party. \nBeadwork embroidery was a new and thriving industry in Hong Kong during the 1950s, with the glass beads imported from Austria and former Czechoslovakia. It was used to embellish a variety of products produced for both local and export markets, including <i>qipao</i>, sweaters, skirts, gloves, handbags, collars and spectacle cases.\r\n","physicalDescription":"Woman's dress (<i>cheongsam</i> or <i>qipao</i>) of medium-weight black silk (possibly crêpe, because of its highly twisted weft).  The front panel is decorated with asymmetric fronds curling from the left shoulder, across the front, and straight down the side of the skirt to the right. These fronds are formed from iridescent black sequins applied onto the black silk. Each frond has a tassel of small iridescent black beads dangling from it and the same small beads are applied in swirling lines which link up all the fronds. \r\nThe dress is knee-length with side splits and has a high stiff collar and short, cap sleeves. The right side fastens with hidden press studs and a hidden zip in the side seam. There are bust darts at the front and waist darts at the back only. The dress is lined throughout with lightweight plain weave black silk.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Unknown","id":"A1848"},"association":{"text":"","id":""},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"silk (textile)","id":"AAT243428"}],"techniques":[{"text":"embroidering","id":"AAT53653"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Plain-weave silk; embroidery in beads and sequins","categories":[{"text":"Clothing","id":"THES48975"},{"text":"Textiles","id":"THES48885"},{"text":"Womenswear","id":"THES49044"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"EAS","id":"THES48596"},"images":["2021MY2921","2021MY2922","2021MY2920","2006AP7882","2019MH9757","2019MH9759"],"imageResolution":"high","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":"120","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Dress for a woman (<i>qipao</i>), plain-weave silk; embroidery in beads and sequins, Hong Kong, 1950s","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["FE.48-1997"],"accessionNumberNum":"48","accessionNumberPrefix":"FE","accessionYear":1997,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2026-03-17","recordCreationDate":"2003-02-14","availableToBook":false}}