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19th Century Civil Rank Badge with Golden Pheasant
About the Item
Qing Dynasty woven rank badge decorated with a Golden Pheasant, denoting a civil official of the Second Rank.
This badge depicts a pheasant against a dark blue background, its wings outstretched, standing on one foot on a blue rock above the sea. The bird faces a red sun, which symbolizes the Emperor and serves as a focal point for the bird to look up to and revere. The bird is surrounded by a number of Buddhist or Daoist symbols, including the Endless Knot, the Wheel of Dharma, the basket of flowers, the lotus flower, and musical instruments. There are also some bats that nearly blend in with the clouds at the top and sides of the image. The Chinese word for bat, "fu," is a homonym for good fortune, and can symbolize longevity and happiness.
Unusually, the decor -- rock, waves, clouds and Buddhist symbols -- is woven into the badge rather than embroidered on it. In contrast, the pheasant is rendered entirely in couched gold thread. Couching is a technique that consists of using silk threads covered in gold foil laid down side by side, then caught in place by tiny stitches of silk thread.
The Chinese tradition of wearing rank badges (buzi), also known as Mandarin squares, to demonstrate civil, military or imperial rank began in 1391 during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) and continued throughout the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911).
These insignia were sewn onto or woven into the wearer’s garments to indicate their rank. Attached to the front and back of a ceremonial robe, rank badges were created in pairs with identical imagery. One remained in one piece and was attached to the back of the wearer's robe; the other was divided vertically up the center to attach to the front of a robe with a center opening.
A badge featuring a bird identified the wearer as a civil official. To attain such a position required years of intense study, so birds may have been selected because of their literary associations. Each rank was represented by a different species, and while there were slight variations over time, by the Qing Dynasty the order from highest to lowest was: (1) crane, (2) golden pheasant, (3) peacock, (4) wild goose, (5) silver pheasant, (6) egret, (7) mandarin duck, (8) quail and (9) paradise flycatcher.
The Golden Pheasant denotes an official of the Second Rank. Because the badge is split down the middle, rather than in one piece, it was meant for the front of the official's robe.
- Dimensions:Height: 10.75 in (27.31 cm)Width: 11.25 in (28.58 cm)Depth: 0.01 in (0.26 mm)
- Materials and Techniques:Silk,Embroidered
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1800-1890
- Condition:Minor losses. Minor structural damages. While the image is in good condition, the bottom of the badge has been cut off from the rest of it, as shown in the last photograph.
- Seller Location:Atlanta, GA
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU7220243430392
About the Seller
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