Chinese Costume Ensemble

1914

A Chinese costume ensemble (Chinese, c. 1914) worn by American socialite Mrs. Stuyvesant Fish. The ensemble consists of a robe, a Western style underdress, and a headpiece. The Chinese-style robe and the Western-style underdress are made from the same orange embroidered silk decorated with stylized clouds and five-clawed dragon motifs. Additional detailing on the robe consists of a blue silk lining, chrysanthemum applique at each sleeve cuff, and decorative buttons, tassels, and an embroidered trim of black and gold. The headdress is fashioned from a similar orange silk and is embellished with a gold metallic crown, sequins, rhinestones, beads, satin flowers, and is finished with hanging blue, pink, and white silk tassels that are attached to the headdress by knotted cording.

Chinese

silk

cotton

bobbinet

embroidery

sequins

bugle beads

metal wire

rhinestones

metal-coated glass seed beads

Gift of Mrs. Marian Anthon Bruen Marrin, 2017.

PSNC.14545.1-.3