Embroidered Silk Lady's Butterfly Short Robe

When the Qing-dynasty woman who wore this lovely jacket entered a room, people would instantly have recognized her status and rank based on the materials and decoration of her garment. So keen was the period on sartorial significance that clothing rules were outlined in an official guide issued in the 1700s. Worn with a pleated apron skirt, this silk jacket features a rich navy blue ground and is elaborately embroidered with flowers and butterflies. Seed stitching accents the peonies, butterflies, and sleeve decoration. Also called the “forbidden stitch,” the technique was so fine and precise that it was said to render the embroiderer blind.