Man’s informal robe

This type of robe, featuring a round collar, right-side opening, slits in front, side and back, and sleeves with horse hoof–shaped cuffs, came into fashion under the Manchu rulers of the Qing dynasty. Noblemen wore this full-length, heavy silk robe in cooler seasons. The simple tailoring on single-colored silk without trims and complex embroidery makes it a casual item of clothing.

An overall pattern of scalloped medallions was woven into the fabric, with a duplicate pattern along the seams of the garment. Each of the medallions encloses a stylized eight-petaled flower. As advanced weaving machines came into use in China in the late nineteenth century, more complex designs were woven into fabric. In comparison with embroidery, this type of weaving was economical and efficient, allowing for mass production to meet increased market demand.