Trouser Band
Qing dynasty (1644–1911), 1875/1900
Medium
Forty-four pairs and eight odd pieces of embroidered sleeve, ankle bands, etc. on gauze.
Dimensions
6.3 × 32.8 cm (2 1/2 × 12 7/8 in.)
Classification
textile
Department
Textiles
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
156142
Art Historical Context
Discover the delicate artistry of the Qing dynasty in *Trouser Band*, a textile masterpiece crafted by Han Chinese artisans around 1875–1900. This intimate work, housed in the Art of Chicago's Textiles Department, consists of forty-four pairs and eight individual pieces of embroidered sleeve bands ankle bands, and similar trims mounted on gossamer-thin gauze. Measuring just 6.3 × 32.8 cm, it exemplifies the refined craftsmanship of late imperial China, when such accessories adorned trousers, sleeves, and robes, blending functionality with opulent decoration. Qing textiles were celebrated for ...
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 ...