Child’s Lined Vest
Machine embroidery, front and back
This Chinese child's vest, styled as traditional Tang suit, feature s quilted cotton, and traditional frog-button closures with intricate embroidery. It would be typically worn for Lunar New Year or cultural festivals.
This vest features two traditional Chinese symbols—the panda and the dragon. Popular images for children’s clothing, the Panda is a national treasure—spreading ideas of peace, harmony, and friendship. It’s colors mirror the Taoist philosophy of Yin and Yang, which balance opposing forces, further exemplified in the vest’s front design of symmetrical pandas.
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On the back, the dragon serves as a symbol of power, good fortune, strength, and authority. A benevolent and wise creature with control over the elements. This vest is accompanied by a blue and white floral pattern, creating a border around the dragon.
Title: Child’s Lined Vest
Date: 1984
Geography: Beijing, China
Medium: Cotton
Dimensions: H. 17 in. W. 15 in.
Provenance: Purchased outside The Great Wall of China
Inventory Number: CH.01
