A RARE EMBROIDERED BLUE SILK FESTIVAL WINTER HOOD

LATE 19TH CENTURY

Details

A RARE EMBROIDERED BLUE SILK FESTIVAL WINTER HOOD
LATE 19TH CENTURY
Of curved form, the vibrant blue satin ground couched in gold-wrapped thread on each side with a dragon and phoenix contesting a flaming pearl amidst clouds and Buddhist Emblems above a water motif and lishui stripe, the edges that would frame the face applied with a tiara-like border of ivory satin embroidered in satin stitch with butterflies and decorative cartouches, with a lower border of finely embroidered yellow satin hung with green silk netting suspending pink tassels, with two embroidered ivory silk ties, lightly padded for warmth
35½ in. (90 cm.) long with tassels

Provenance

McCoy Jones collection.

Lot Essay

Compare a silk hood of similar shape in the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, illustrated by J. Vollmer, Ruling from the Dragon Throne, Hong Kong, 2002, p. 57, fig. 2.29. The author cites that such hoods are known as fengguo (wind bonnet), probably referring to their original function in northern Asia.

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