BADGE WITH PEACOCKS AND PEONIES
This badge is an insignia worn by an official in sixteenth-century China. It shows one peacock flying and the other standing on a rock near water. It includes peonies—flowers that symbolize prosperity and honor—and lingzhi—a fungus associated with immortality. Clouds appear at the top and bottom. The original red color of the peonies and clouds has faded to brown.
This badge was made for a civil official. It was stitched onto clothing to indicate their rank. Birds were used to symbolize civil officials, while animals were used for the military.
Object Number
F1911.635
Date
probably 16th century, Ming dynasty
Place of Origin
China
Medium
Polychrome and gold-wrapped silk threads
Dimensions
H × W (image): 26.8 × 30.8 cm
(10 9/16 × 12 1/8 in.)
Credit line
Gift of Charles Lang Freer