Qing dynasty (1644-1912), silk embroidered with gold wrapped thread and polychrome silk threads in a satin stitch, each square badge has a golden pheasant to the center standing on a craggy blue rock over green swirling waves, Chinese ruyi head clouds surround the pheasant and an iron red sun is featured in the upper right corner, border of gold thread to each badge.

Image 9 x 9 in.

From the Collection of the late Dr. Schuyler Van Rensselaer Cammann (1912-1991), Esteemed Professor Emeritus in the Department of Oriental Studies, University of Pennsylvania

A golden pheasant, symbolizing duties and obligations, was the second rank for civil officials.

Schuyler Van Rensselaer Cammann was an American scholar renowned for his contributions to the field of art and archaeology of Asia, particularly Southeast Asian and Chinese art. He began his distinguished career at Yale University, where upon graduation he spent two years living in Changsha teaching English and European History. He traveled extensively at this time and developed a great interest and appreciation for Tibetan art. He returned to America to attend graduate school at Harvard, but before proceeding to his PhD, World War II broke out and Dr. Cammann returned to China to serve as a US naval officer. After the war, he completed his doctorate at John Hopkins and then went on to teach for many years at the University of Pennsylvania. He continued to conduct fieldwork expeditions to Asia. Over the length of his career, he received many notable awards and recognition for his scholarly contributions to the field of Asian art and archeology.


Very good estate condition; one badge with cut down the center from placement on a court robe; very light wear to lower right corner of one and lower left corner of other; brown silk base has wear and loss to edges.