Empresses of China’s Forbidden City – Toes in a Very Different Sand

Festive robe with bats, lotuses, and the character for longevity. Jiaqing period, 1796–1820. Embroidery, polychrome and metallic-wrapped silk threads on silk tabby. Probably embroidered by the Imperial Silk Manufactory, Suzhou and tailored in the Imperial Workshop, Beijing. Palace Museum, Gu43302. © The Palace Museum. Fair use license. via http://www.alaintruong.com/archives/2018/08/18/36637303.html

Festive headdress with phoenixes and peonies. Tongzhi or Guangxu period, probably 1872 or 1888–89. Silver with gilding, kingfisher feather, pearls, coral, jadeite, ruby, sapphire, tourmaline, turquoise, lapis lazuli, and glass; frame: metal, wires with silk satin, velvet, and cardboard. Probably made in the Imperial Workshop, Beijing. Palace Museum, Gu59708. © The Palace Museum. Fair use license. via http://www.alaintruong.com/archives/2018/08/18/36637303.html

Court hat with phoenixes. 18th or 19th c. Sable, velvet, silk floss, pearls, tiger’s-eye stone, lapis lazuli, glass, birch bark and metal with gilding, and kingfisher feather. Imperial Workshop, Beijing, presumed maker. Palace Museum, Gu60084. © The Palace Museum. Fair use license. via http://www.alaintruong.com/archives/2018/08/18/36637303.html

Pair of socks with phoenixes and other birds. Kangxi period, 1662–1722. Embroidery, polychrome, metallic-wrapped and peacock-filament-wrapped threads on silk satin with silk damask and silk lining. workshop, Probably made in a workshop in Jiangsu or Zhejiang province. Palace Museum, Gu61795. © The Palace Museum. Fair use license. via https://www.antiquesandthearts.com/empresses-of-chinas-forbidden-city-1644-1912/

Platform shoes with tiger heads, the character for longevity, and bats. Guangxu period, 1875–1908. Appliqué, and silk satin. Platforms wood core covered with cotton and glass beads, Palace Museum, Gu61568. © The Palace Museum. Fair use license. via https://www.providencejournal.com/entertainmentlife/20181227/peabody-essex-museum-explores-history-of-three-women-who-ruled-china

Festive robe with eight dragon-phoenix roundels and twelve imperial symbols. Guangxu period, about 1888–89. Embroidery, polychrome and metallic-wrapped silk threads on silk tabby. Imperial Silk Manufactory, Suzhou, embroidery. Imperial Workshop, Beijing, tailoring. Palace Museum, Gu44219. © The Palace Museum. Fair use license. via http://www.alaintruong.com/archives/2018/08/18/36637303.html

Seal of empress with a double-headed dragon. Republican period. 1922. Gold alloy with silk tassels. Imperial workshops, Beijing. ©The Palace Museum. Fair use license. via https://www.providencejournal.com/entertainmentlife/20181227/peabody-essex-museum-explores-history-of-three-women-who-ruled-china

Stupa containing Empress Dowager Chongqing’s hair and Amitayus Buddha. 1777, Qianlong period. Gold and silver alloy with coral and other precious and semi precious stones. Imperial workshops, Beijing. Palace Museum, Gu11866. © The Palace Museum. Fair use license. via http://www.alaintruong.com/archives/2018/08/18/36637303.html

Ewer with lady and boy in garden on two sides. Probably 1760’s-1770’s. Probably made in Beijing. Qianlong period. Cloisonné and painted enamel, copper and gold alloy with enamel and precious and semi precious stones. Palace Museum, Gu11450. © The Palace Museum. Fair use license. via https://www.antiquesandthearts.com/empresses-of-chinas-forbidden-city-1644-1912/

Ewer with dragons and clouds. 1736-1795. Qianlong period. Gold alloy. Probably made in Beijing in the Imperial workshops. Palace Museum, Gu11455. © The Palace Museum. Fair use license. via https://america.cgtn.com/2018/09/19/the-empresses-of-china#foobox-1/6/EMP-363-Full-JPG.jpg

This is the second post from this wonderful exhibition. The first was of jewelry; the third is upcoming and has robes, hats and other items of attire. All as wonderful as these. The empresses were lucky indeed to be able to surround themselves with these enchanting items . . .

Tag: Empresses of China’s Forbidden City

Hats and other attire good enough for an empress. From the exhibition “Empresses of China’s Forbidden City”. Collection of the Palace Museum, Beijing.

Home decor that only an empress could set her eyes on, at least till now. From the exhibition “Empresses of China’s Forbidden City”. Collection of the Palace Museum, Beijing.