Chinese Cloud Collar 1900s with silk and metallic embroidery featuring the moth

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About the Item

This absolutely stunning Chinese cloud collar dates from about the early 1900s, and is part of a textile tradition which originated in the medieval Mongol Empire. From at least the 16th century in Persia and China, cloud collars were used as a decorative element worn on special occasions. This one features a moth in the center front. Moths have a special place in Chinese mythology. In ancient China, it was believed that moths were actually the souls of deceased people who came back to visit their loved ones. Depending on the legend, the souls either possessed the insects, or were the physical manifestation of the soul itself. This is rooted in a Taoist belief, from the Book of Transformation by Tan Qiao. The belief is that existence is dependent entirely upon an emptiness of void in the universe. The emptiness becomes spirit, the spirit becomes breath, breath becomes form, and then the form returns to the void once its life is over, only to repeat again. These intricately detailed collars were made of silk, and, even by the early 1900s, continued to be hand-stitched and hand-embroidered, as this one is. This particular collar displays masterful embroidery technique, utilizing a variety of stitches to give the images texture and depth. In particular, the delicate seed stitches, or ‘Peking knots’, which were found almost exclusively in embroidery of Chinese origin in this period, make up a large part of the design, along with couched metallic threads and satin-stitched grounds. The earthy colours are perfectly balanced in the design, and are accented by the glittering metal threads. The whole collar is set off perfectly by the striking black border. This garment would have taken hundreds of hours of handwork to produce, utilizing designs, techniques, and traditions which took more than 400 years to develop. It is a breathtaking piece, and will be the jewel of any collection. This extraordinary embroidery has this gift of true artistry which captures the beauty of power of the myth of the moth.

Dimensions:
Length: 32 in (81.28 cm)Marked Size: 0 (US)
Place of Origin:
China
Period:
Early 19th Century
Condition:
Wear consistent with age and use. Neck 13 inches.
Seller Location:
New York, NY
Reference Number:
Seller: EE2881stDibs: LU1612632312

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