Monday, November 20, 2006

Robes of silk and gold, part III

I'm putting up pictures of an incredible formal court costume, or chao-fu, that we also passed on to a gentleman in Taiwan. The pictures speak for themselves on the beauty of the formal elegance and power invested in these robes of state.

In addition, here is a whimsical example to contrast with the formal elegance of state robes. My mom collected a hundred butterfly robe in glorious purple. Worn by a young lady from a banker's family in Shanxi province, Imperial Qing China, in the late 19th century. As we speak, this is up on eBay and I hope the robe finds a good home.

I am putting up pictures of my prototype that came back! This is a phoenix gazing at a peony, symbols of feminine power, grace and wealth. I took inspiration from a Ming Dynasty kesi wall hanging that was the crown jewel of the Imperial Textile exhibition at the Singapore Asian Civilisation Museum earlier this year, as part of the HK based Englishman Chris Hall's collection. This is only a tiny part of the kesi hanging. There's more material that I'll be using in my later creations :) I have sent the prototype to a local leather craftsman to be turned into a clutchbag, God willing, it will be stunning. I will have them back in January next year! Cheers!

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