Rank badge with Lion

Object Details

• Description

  Ming rank badge with lion in kesi.

  The badge is woven in the kesi technique with silk threads, the main colors of which are: green, blue (azure), ochre-brown, yellow, cinnabar-red, white and black. It depicts a grimacing, curly-maned lion in the main field. Flames emanate from his shoulders. He sits on what may be a rock plateau or level earth, which is buffeted by tall waves. In front of the waves, at the center, a small, three-pronged mountain rises from the sea that is depicted as a long row of curly waves along the bottom edge of the badge. The curly waves resemble the clouds that fill the sky above and to the sides of the lion. At the far right and left bottom corners of the badge, half of the three-pronged mountain symbol is shown. A lingzhi fungus appears on the right and left side of the side of the lion.

  The badge is woven so skillfully that the front and back are almost identical, with only a very few pulled threads on the reverse. Looking at the frontside of the badge, the lion looks to the viewer's right.

• Collection

  Freer Gallery of Art Collection

• Exhibition History

  Looking Out, Looking In: Art in Late Imperial China (October 14, 2017 - ongoing)

• Origin

  China

• Credit Line

  Gift of Shirley Z. Johnson in appreciation of Jan Stuart

• Type

  Costume and Textile

• Restrictions and Rights

  Usage Conditions Apply

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Keep Exploring

• Related Resources

  collections.si.edu

• Date

  1400s, 1300s

• Place

  China

• Topic

  Water, Shirley Z. Johnson collection, Cats, Art, Animals, Chinese Art, Cloud, Ming dynasty (1368 - 1644), Fungus-of-immortality

• Culture

  Chinese

• Object Type

  Costume, Textiles