woman's robe

woman's robe , early 1900s, Republic of China (1911–1949)

Where object was made: China

Material/technique: couching; silk; ribbon; satin; embroidering; gold thread

Credit line: Gift of Dr. and Mrs. Robert P. Woods

Accession number: 1982.0122

Not on display

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Spencer Museum of Art Highlights

This painterly depiction of a bamboo grove appears somewhat awkward and tentative, as if the artist was experimenting with a new way of thinking about costume design. There was a strong Japanese presence in China at the time the robe was made, and the artist was probably responding to a Japanese tradition of treating the whole garment as a single canvas. Perhaps he or she had seen examples of Japanese kimono patterned with a single motif sweeping from hem to shoulder.

Google Art Project

Exhibition Label:
“Flowers, Dragons and Pine Trees: Asian Textiles in the Spencer Museum of Art,” Nov-2005, Mary Dusenbury
This painterly depiction of a bamboo grove appears somewhat awkward and tentative, as if the artist were experimenting with a new way of thinking about costume design. There was a strong Japanese presence in China at the time the robe was made, and the artist was probably responding to a Japanese tradition of treating the whole garment as a single canvas. Perhaps he had seen examples of Japanese kimono patterned with a single motif sweeping from hem to shoulder.