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Rare 19th Century Civil Rank Badge with Paradise Flycatcher
About the Item
Rare Qing Dynasty silk embroidery rank badge decorated with a paradise flycatcher, denoting an official of the Ninth Rank. It is relatively unusual to come across a badge of the lowest rank, since officials of higher ranks could afford numerous badges, while the holders of lower ranks often possessed no more than a single set.
This badge depicts a paradise flycatcher on a gold background. The bird is shown with its wings outstretched, perched on a rock above the sea. It faces a red-gold sun, which symbolizes the Emperor and serves as a focal point for the bird to look up to and revere. Bats (a symbol of good fortune) flutter among scrolling clouds between peach blossoms and peonies. The decor is rendered in Peking knot, with couched gold thread forming the background. 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 woven in pairs with identical imagery. One remained in one piece; 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 paradise flycatcher, denoting an official of the Ninth Rank, can be recognized by its two distinctive long tail feathers that are narrower at their base. 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: 11 in (27.94 cm)Width: 11.5 in (29.21 cm)Depth: 0.01 in (0.26 mm)
- Materials and Techniques:Silk,Embroidered
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1800-1890
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use. Minor losses. Minor fraying around the bird's foot, and some losses at the corners. The key pattern border is mostly missing, except along the bottom edge.
- Seller Location:Atlanta, GA
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU7220239167612
About the Seller
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Attached to the front and 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. A badge featuring a bird identified the wearer as a civil official, possibly because of birds' 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.
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