Rank Badge with Mandarin Duck
Unknown Artist
late 18th–early 19th century
Medium
Silk on silk
Dimensions
11 1/4 x 12 in. (28.57 x 30.48 cm)
Classification
Textiles-Embroidered
Culture & Period
China · Qing dynasty (1644–1911)
Department
Asian Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Bequest of William Christian Paul, 1929
Accession Number
30.75.953
Tags
Art Historical Context
This exquisite rank badge, in China during the late18th to early19th century under the dynasty, exemplifies the textile traditions of imperial court attire Worn on the front back of official robes such badges served as visual of an individual's rank the bureaucratic hierarchy, allowing officials to instantly recognized by their peers and the public. The piece's-on-silk embroidery highlights the technical mastery of artisans who specialized in delicate needlework, layering fine to achieve subtle shading and detail on a compact surface measuring just over 11 by 12 inches. Mandarin ducks, promin...