Trimming
Qing dynasty(1644–1911), 1850/1900
Medium
White gauze, embroidered strips
Dimensions
47.5 × 6.2 cm (18 3/4 × 2 3/4 in.)
Classification
weaving
Department
Textiles
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
238467
Art Historical Context
This exquisite piece of trimming, crafted by Han-Chinese artisans during the Qing dynasty (1644–1911) around 1850–1900, exemplifies the refined textile arts of late imperial China. Made from delicate white gauze woven into embroidered strips measuring 47.5 × 6.2 cm, it served as a narrow decorative border, likely for elegant garments, robes, or furnishings. The translucent quality of the gauze, achieved through fine weaving techniques, allowed light to play across its surface, highlighting the intricate embroidery that added texture and subtle patterns without overpowering the fabric's airy el...
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 ...