Trimming
Qing dynasty(1644–1911), 1850/1900
Medium
White gauze, embroidered strips
Dimensions
48.8 × 5.7 cm (19 1/4 × 2 1/4 in.)
Classification
weaving
Department
Textiles
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
238443
Art Historical Context
Discover the delicate beauty of *Trimming*, a exquisite piece of Han-Chinese textile art from China's Qing dynasty (16441911), dated between 1850 and 1900. Measuring just 48.8 × 5.7 cm (19¼ × 2¼ in.), this narrow strip of white gauze adorned with embroidered bands exemplifies the refined craftsmanship of late imperial China. Housed in the Art Institute of Chicago's Department and classified as weaving, it likely served as decorative edging for garments, robes, or furnishings, adding elegance to everyday luxury. During the Qing era, Han Chinese artisans elevated textile arts to new heights, bl...
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 ...