Woman's Ao (Short Robe)

Qing dynasty (1644–1911), 1875/1900

Silk, warp-float faced 7:1 satin weave; embroidered with silk and gold-leaf-over-lacquered-paper-strip-wrapped silk in knot, satin and stem stitches; laid work and couching; sleeve facing: silk, 7:1 satin damask weave; embroidered with silk and gilt-metal-strip-wrapped silk in knot, satin, single satin, split, and stem stitches (under drawing in black ink or graphite); edging and cloud collar: silk, warp-float faced 7:1 satin weave; embroidered with silk and gold-leaf-over-lacquered-paper-wrapped silk in satin and stem stitches; laid work and couching; collar: silk, 7:1 satin damask weave; ribbons: silk and gold-leaf-over-lacquered-paper-strip-wrapped cotton, stripes of 7:1 satin weave and stripes of plain weave with supplementary patterning warps and of silk and gold-leaf-over-lacquered-paper-strip-wrapped cotton, stripes of 7:1 satin weave, and stripes of plain weave with supplementary patterning warps; tapes: silk and gold-leaf-over-lacquered-paper-strip-wrapped silk, 1:1 oblique interlacing and silk, plain weave with self-patterning main warp floats; trim and closures: silk, warp-float faced 7:1 satin weave; lined with silk, plain weave