Two Chinese Silk Embroidered Jacket and Skirt Wedding Ensembles

Early 20th century, includes a black silk ground jacket embroidered in colorful silk thread with roundels containing red head cranes, along the lower hem and sleeves are waves with large floral blossoms of peony and plum, lined to the interior with pink silk fabric (53 x 28 in.)(Very good condition), an ivory cream silk ground jacket embroidered skillfully in the Peking Knot (Forbidden stitch) with colorful silk thread with roundels containing elegant ladies in lush garden terraces, lined to the interior with ivory cream silk fabric (46 x 27 in.)(Very good condition), a skirt of auspicious red silk, associated with weddings in China, very finely embroidered with panels of silver and gold metallic wrapped thread featuring phoenix and dragon along with flora and waves, lined to the reverse with light blue silk (Open 37 x 48 in.)(Very good condition), and another skirt of auspicious red silk very finely embroidered with panels of silver and gold metallic wrapped thread featuring lotus and peony blossoms along with flora and waves, lined to the reverse with ruby pink silk (Open 34 x 48 in.)(Very good condition).

Folded together (14 x 14 x 18 in.)

From the Collection of Helen Rindlbacher Ward, and by descent
Helen Rindlbacher Ward was born in Shanghai in 1936 to German parents, her father was one of the few foreigners who worked at the Chinese Aluminium Rolling Mills, Ltd company. Her family returned to Germany in 1955, and Helen moved to the United States in 1965 after marrying an Army officer. The Chinese artworks in this collection were all acquired in Shanghai during the 1930s-1950s.

This skirt and jacket wedding ensemble reflects the changing tastes in the late Qing dynasty in China. The ensemble combines the practicality of a European two piece dress with enduring Chinese traditional fabrics and motifs. The jacket evokes official court robes while the skirt is inspired by the West with a pleated apron and rectangular front panel. The textiles are lavishly embroidered with auspicious motifs such as the phoenix and dragon, bamboo, plum blossoms, peonies, and cranes, representing blessings of longevity and prosperity.