Surcoat
Place made:China
General region:Asia
Culture: Chinese
Dynasty: Qing dynasty
Date: 1821-1850
Medium: Silk and fur
Dimensions:
length: 54 in. (137.2 cm)
Credit Line: San Antonio Museum of Art, Gift of H. Ross Perot
Object number: 87.70.1
Label Text
Semiformal robes such as this one were designed to recall the nomadic heritage of Manchus before they conquered China in 1644. Such robes for men and women are similar in cut and tailoring: full-body length and shaped like an “A” with the front and back cut from a single piece of silk. The front includes two overlapping parts and fastens to the wearer’s right. The sleeves taper from wide at the shoulder to tight at the forearms and end with a horse-hoof-shaped cuff, a vestigial reference to hand coverings worn by nomadic horsemen. Women’s robes include an extra embroidered band separating the sleeve from the body. Robes for men are slitted on the front, back, and sides, while robes for women only have side slits.
Not on view
In Collection(s)
The San Antonio Museum of Art is in the process of digitizing its permanent collection. This electronic record was created from historic documentation that does not necessarily reflect SAMA's complete or current knowledge about the object. Review and updating of such records is ongoing.
This resource has been made possible in part by the National Endowment for the Humanities: Exploring the Human Endeavor.
