Catalog: Antiques: Regional Art: Asian: Chinese: Textiles (2)

Pair Chinese mandarin squares indicating civil rank. The badges embroidered with colored silk and gold thread to a single piece of uncut fabric. Fair to good condition. Total length of the uncut panel 16 1/8 inches (41 cm). Total width 8 1/16 inches (20.48 cm)

Pair kesi badges without rank insignia. With background only, we assume this must either mean it was for a student candidate not yet with rank or perhaps awaiting the addition of rank insignia (if it was appropriate to embroider or stitch onto a kesi badge.) We have included photos of the front and of the back with lining lifted to reveal the kesi technique including varied gold metallic thread. Condition is fair to good. Most of what appear to be fraying along the edges is confined to the back lining rather than to the facing badge. One of the pair is two pieced with more delicate state where the halves meet. Each 'square' is approximately 8 3/4 inches (22.23 cm) by 8 1/4 inches (21 cm). The two uncut, stitched together, are together nearly 18 inches long.