Description
#33601 "Pair of antique Chinese Qing Dynasty silk textile / tapestry court rank military buzi badges or panels embroidered with a scene Mandarin Ducks & blue flowers. Framed in faux bamboo. A mandarin square, also known as a rank badge, was a large embroidered badge sewn onto the surcoat of officials in Imperial China, Korea, in Vietnam, & the Ryukyu Kingdom. It was embroidered with detailed, colorful animal or bird insignia indicating the rank of the official wearing it. Continued: Rank badges (also called rank insignia or Mandarin squares) were used in China during the Ming (1368-1644) & Qing (1644-1911) dynasties to demonstrate the wearer's rank. in 1391 new clothing regulations directed court officials to wear decorative squares indicating their rankbirds for civil officials & animals for military officials. During the Qing dynasty rank badge design was regulated, & certain creatures were associated with specific ranks. Qing badges depict a representation of the universe with a landscape & a central creature, surrounded by clouds & facing the sun. The sun represented the emperor & this composition showed the official's loyalty to him. An official's wife wore rank badges that mirrored her husband's. Most of the examples in cmA's collection depict creatures facing a sun on the left. Attached to the front & back of a ceremonial robe, rank badges were woven in pairs with identical imagery. One was divided vertically up the center to attach to the front of a robe with a center opening. Rank badges are generally square or rectangular, although round examples exist. They are typically satin weave or slit tapestry weave (kesi) silk. Satin weave badges often have dark backgrounds with silk and/or metal thread embroidery. Some badges incorporate peacock feathers or beads. Late in the Qing dynasty appliqué replaced embroidery to allow for quicker production & a change in rank. CONDITION Good Overall - Some water marks/yellowing to mats; a few small holes/light stains to embroidery DIMENSIONS 11.5" x 0.75" x 11.5" / Sans Frame - 7.75" x 7.25" (Width x Depth x Height) 2 Antique Chinese Qing Dynasty Silk Court Rank Military Duck Buzi Badges 12"
