19th C. Chinese Silk Rank Badge / Mandarin Square

East Asia, China, Qing dynasty, ca. 19th century CE. An embroidered silk textile panel known as a rank badge or Mandarin square with a symbolic silver pheasant. The badges were worn on clothing to signify the wearer's civil court position and different birds represented 9 official levels. This silver pheasant is a 5th rank badge, depicted white with a head crest, and 5 serrated tail feathers. The textile is a dark blue embroidered with shimmering silk threads in shades of blue, white, and gold - a red sun in the upper corner. The decorative background is filled with clouds, vegetation, and a foliate border. Badges were worn on the side that was closest to the emperor. Civil officials were always positioned on the emperor's left, and so this badge was deliberately sewn with the sun and bird facing the corner that would be closest to his majesty, symbolizing loyalty, and proximity to the imperial authority. Size of textile: 10.75" L x 11.5" W (27.3 cm x 29.2 cm); frame: 11.75" L x 12.5" W (29.8 cm x 31.8 cm)

Provenance: private Hawaii, USA collection, acquired from 2000 to 2010; ex-M. Kobiashi collection, Hawaii, USA

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#185299
Condition Report: Not examined outside of frame. Some fraying and loose embroidery threads in a few areas. Textile is intact and mounted in a modern wood frame under glass. Suspension wire on verso for display.