Historical information

Symbolism:
Fish - abundance.
Scrolls- happiness and prosperity.
Fan - longevity.
Chrysanthemum - longevity.
Because these skirts were worn under knee length jackets , the embroidery only came up to where it would meet the bottom of the jacket.
'Chinese Dress from the Qing Dynasty to the Present' 2008 Valery Garrett.
Symbolism - from C.A.S.Williams ' Chinese Symbolism and Art Motifs' 2006 and 'Hidden Meanings in Chinese Art'2006 Terese Tse Bartholomew.

Physical description

Cyclamen coloured, self patterned silk damask skirt with godets bordered in mid blue and lined with aqua silk.
It has a wide cotton waist band with a loop at each end. The band was made in cotton (or hemp) to stop the skirt from slipping down. It was fastened by means of a tie or button.
The skirt has a wide front panel embroidered with slowers in shades of blue and white, the central flower, a peony, is in a vase or urn.
There are varius symbols inthe embroidery surrounding the central flower.
Machine embroidered braid forms a border around this central area and beyond this is another hand embroidered border on white with blue and flesh coloured pink flowers.
The godets have small embroidered motifs of fish, scrolls, fans and chrysanthemums.
Embroidered in Pekin knot stitch outlined in metal thread.

Inscriptions & markings

Pound sign 5-15-0 written in pencil on waistband.