Panel (Dress Fabric)
Qing dynasty (1644–1911), 1875/1900
Medium
Geometric patterns with figures and precious things embroidered on gauze.
Dimensions
31.5 × 23.1 cm (12 3/8 × 9 1/8 in.)
Classification
weaving
Department
Textiles
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
238399
Art Historical Context
This exquisite panel, crafted as dress fabric by Han-Chinese during the late Qing dynasty (circa 1875–1900), exemplifies the era's masterful textile traditions. Measuring a compact 31.5 × 23.1 cm, it was likely intended for elegant garments worn by the elite, reflecting the dynasty's blend of opulence and refinement amid China's transition toward modernity. The medium—delicate embroidery on translucent gauze—highlights advanced weaving and stitching techniques. Gauze, a finely woven silk, provided a lightweight, ethereal base ideal for flowing robes, while intricate threads depict geometric p...
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 ...