Bridal Long Pao (Dragon Robe)
1875/90, Qing dynasty (1644–1911)
Medium
Silk and gold-leaf-over-lacquered-paper-strip-wrapped silk, warp-float faced 7:1 satin weave with supplementary brocading wefts bound in weft-float faced 1:2 'Z' twill interlacings; painted details; closures, ties, and lining: silk, 4:1 satin damask weave; metal clasps and knotted button
Dimensions
129.6 × 187.3 cm (51 × 73 3/4 in.)
Classification
textile
Department
Textiles
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
47283
Art Historical Context
This exquisite *Bridal Long Pao or dragon robe, hails from the late Qing dynasty (1644–1911), a period when China's imperial court blended Manchu traditions with-Chinese craftsmanship. Dating to 1875–90 and made by Han-Chinese artisans it served as luxurious bridal attire for elite women, symbolizing prosperity, power, and auspicious unions. Dragon motifs, reserved for imperial circles under strict sumptuary laws, evoke the emperor's divine authority—here adapted for a bride, underscoring the robe's role in high-society weddings. Crafted from silk with gold-leaf-over-lacquered-paper-strip-wra...
About the Artist
Han-Chinese
**Han-Chinese** was the collective attribution given to anonymous artisans of Han Chinese descent who crafted intricate embroidered textiles during the Qing dynasty (1644–1911). These makers, active primarily in the late 18th to early 20th centuries, specialized in luxurious garments and furnishings that showcased the pinnacle of Han Chinese needlework traditions. Their early lives and individual ...