George Clayton generously donated a Chinese robe and five sets of embroidered cuffs to the Spurlock Museum in December 2004. Mr. Clayton's parents were missionaries in China from 1912 until 1942 and acquired the artifacts at that time.
These artifacts probably date from the end of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). The cuffs would have been worn with the fine embroidery on the back of the sleeve. When the wearer's arms were folded in front of the body at waist level, the embroidery would then be visible.
The robe is decorated with a dragon, one of the Twelve Symbols of Sovereignty. Dragons are symbols of the natural world, adaptability and transformation. They also symbolize power and were placed on many emperors' robes in the Qing Dynasty.
These items are a welcome enhancement of the Museum's Chinese clothing and textile collection.
Learn More: Other Chinese Cuffs 2004.14
Most of the artifacts in New Acquisitions articles are chosen to allow website visitors to explore artifacts that are not on display in the Museum's galleries. Try searching the database or exploring the Virtual Tour to find artifacts on display.