Sleeve Band
Unknown Artist
19th century
Medium
Silk, metallic thread; on silk
Dimensions
28 1/2 x 3 1/4 in. (72.39 x 8.26 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
30.75.579
Tags
Art Historical Context
This exquisite **Sleeve Band** from19th-century China, during the Qing dynasty (4–1911), the pinnacle of imperial textile artistry. Made of fine silk embroidered with shimmering metallic threads, this narrow strip—measuring 28½ x 3¼ inches (72.39 x 8.26 cm)—was likely a decorative cuff for elite robes, adorning the sleeves of scholars, officials, or nobility. Such bands were integral to Manchu fashion, blending functionality with opulent display. The embroidery depicts serene landscapes punctuated by elegant pavilions, motifs evoking harmony between humanity and nature—a core theme in Chinese...