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Lion at the top and qilin (mythical creature) at the bottom. A fish is next to the qilin. 202cm x 32cmShaanxi ProvinceHan ChineseCotton2724.234021
Two flower-like butterflies on the top of a fish surrounded by one phoenix and different fruits and vegetables, such as pomegranates, persimmons, peaches, melons and various flowers. The butterfly motifs employed in Chinese art often play on homophones; yu (fish) is a homophone for wealth and abundance. The pomegranate implies many descendants, and the persimmon (shi) is a homophone for everything. The basic message of this medallion is to be wealthy in all aspects. 202cm x 32cmShaanxi ProvinceHan ChineseCotton2724.234021
Tiger with wang, the character for king, on the forehead of a boy with a spear-- popular decorative motif of Yang Xiang defeating a tiger. 202cm x 32cm Shaanxi Province Han ChineseCotton 2724.234021
Rabbit on lotus flowers. 202cm x 32cm Shaanxi Province Han ChineseCotton 2724.234021
A tree with a peach and pomegranate, forming a pun for longevity. 202cm x 32cm Shaanxi Province Han ChineseCotton 2724.234021
A baby bag designed with a peony and phoenix motif. Made of appliquéd cotton on white cloth, framed on four sides by dark blue cotton and lined with lighter blue cotton cloth. Attached are two blue cotton bands. 75.5cm x 69cm Han Chinese Sichuan ProvinceCotton 2724.234775
A tiger is smartly appliquéd around the neck of this apron. This kind of guardian spirit image tends to be striking in order to scare off evil spirits. On the front pocket is the design of yi tuan he qi (great harmony and happiness) which the Chinese use as a way of wishing for concordance with others. Yi tuan he qi is represented here as a happy monk, in the shape of a yuanbao (shoe-shaped gold ingot). Yi tuan he qi is also sometimes presented as a boy or a girl. Bag52.4cm x 43.2cmSichuan ProvinceHan ChineseCotton2724.234755
In China, in order to protect children, parents often make children, particularly boys, wear clothing with images of guardian spirits. The most common animal spirits are tigers and lions. The image on the back of this vest is most likely a lion. It also has a persimmon joined to its tail, which implies that everything will be protected by the lion. Another interesting characteristic of this object is that the lion was arranged on the back of the vest. Since the head of the lion faces the same direction as the head of the boy, the guardian spirit lies on the back of the boy and is embodied in the boy. 29.5cm x 33.2cm Sichuan Province Han ChineseCotton 2724.234767
This cloth, composed of polychrome silk thread cross-stitch on navy blue cotton, depicts four pairs of lions playing with a ball around a central square. 47cm x 33cm Han Chinese Yunnan ProvinceCotton 2724.234501
The center medallion of this apron depicts figures on a ship, while on the lower pocket can be seen an eagle-like bird, flowers, and a pair of lions. ChinaHan ChineseSichuan ProvinceCotton2724.234312
The square-shaped bibs found in the Schuster Collection at The Field Museum were probably first made as handkerchiefs or cloths. They were then cut out and tailored as a baby bibs. If they were originally made for bib, they were at least modeled on handkerchief-shaped cloths. One can see this because some of the pattern was cut off in the middle. A thicker cloth was attached to the collar and two knot-buttons were added to the lower part (or the back when in use). Four strings on the tips of four corners were designed to be tied under the baby’s arms. 28cm x 30cm Han Chinese Yunnan ProvinceCotton 2724.234480
The square-shaped bibs found in the Schuster Collection at The Field Museum were probably first made as handkerchiefs or cloths. They were then cut out and tailored as a baby bibs. If they were originally made for bib, they were at least modeled on handkerchief-shaped cloths. One can see this because some of the pattern was cut off in the middle. A thicker cloth was attached to the collar and two knot-buttons were added to the lower part (or the back when in use). Four strings on the tips of four corners were designed to be tied under the baby’s arms. 30.5cm x 32.5cm Han Chinese Yunnan ProvinceCotton 2724.234477
The square-shaped bibs found in the Schuster Collection at The Field Museum were probably first made as handkerchiefs or cloths. They were then cut out and tailored as a baby bibs. If they were originally made for bib, they were at least modeled on handkerchief-shaped cloths. One can see this because some of the pattern was cut off in the middle. A thicker cloth was attached to the collar and two knot-buttons were added to the lower part (or the back when in use). Four strings on the tips of four corners were designed to be tied under the baby’s arms. 32cm x 31.5cm Han Chinese Yunnan ProvinceCotton 2724.234478
Chinese favorable phrases become decoration. From left to the right are: yipin dangchao (top rank official in court); jinyu mantang (one’s house filled with gold and jade / wealthy with vast riches); fugui shuangquan (possessing both riches, honor, wealth and rank); changsheng bulao (perpetual rejuvenation); songbai tongnian (live as long as pine tress and cypresses). 38.3cm x 38.0cm Sichuan Province Han ChineseCotton 2724.234193
A pair of women’s trousers. The bottom band is decorated with a stylized floral scroll work. The middle contains a repeated landscape of tree, pavilion, and bridge. 93cm x 58cmHan ChineseSichuan ProvinceCotton2724.234443
Front: die lian hua (butterflies adoring flowers) and xique dengmei (magpie on a plum branch) 76cm x 41cmSichuan ProvinceHan ChineseCotton2724.234337
The front of this vest is decorated with lions and tigers under two flower vases and butterflies. (This is the first piece that Schuster collected in western China). 29cm x 35cmShaanxi ProvinceHan ChineseCotton2724.234034
The back with A Fu flanked by two animals. (This is the first piece that Schuster collected in western China). 29cm x 35cmShaanxi ProvinceHan ChineseCotton2724.234034
On the front of the vest a goat and two peacock-like birds with their fully-spread tails form a central medallion. Below, the middle medallion consists of a design of the A Fu, which literally means Happiness in Chinese and appears on many of the Schuster collection objects. It is also called yituan heqi or great harmony and happiness. The Chinese use this idea as a way of wishing for concordance with people all round. A Fu is the name for the same figure in the southern part of China. The idea of concordance with people all around was pictorially transformed into a round-shaped design, as the one that appears on this vest. Sometimes A Fu appears as a boy and a girl together. 48cm x 43cmSichuan ProvinceHan ChineseCotton2724.234315
48cm x 43cmSichuan ProvinceHan ChineseCotton2724.234315
This apron shows a depiction of the lion dance. 46cm x 42cmSichuan ProvinceHan ChineseCotton2724.234239
Bib decorated with theatrical figures from the play of Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai. 40.5cm x 48cmSichuan ProvinceHan ChineseCotton2724.234237
40.5cm x 48cmSichuan ProvinceHan ChineseCotton2724.234237
This handkerchief depicts a vase with an artemisium leaf containing a woman and a “banana fan” with a boy inside. A third figure stands to the side, along with a crane and deer. 42cm x 42cmHan ChineseSichuan ProvinceCotton2724.234419
A man rides on a white horse, indicating that he is a zhuang yuan, the winner of the imperial exam. On the top of the medallion, two ladies stand on the clouds; they are fairy ladies coming down to the human world. This scene encourages people to achieve success in the imperial examination and suggests that if one comes in first in the imperial exam, any miracle can happen. Fairies may even come down from the heavens. 74cm x 37cmSichuan ProvinceHan ChineseCotton2724.234406
74cm x 37cmSichuan ProvinceHan ChineseCotton2724.234406
This bolster cover is decorated with the pattern of a wedding procession. Compared to a similar pattern on a bed valance from the Schuster Collection, this design is quite elaborate. The bride's dowry is represented in intricate detail. From the varied furniture to the huge trunks and cases, people can get a sense of the kind of dowry present at a grand wedding. 50.9cm x 36.8cmSichuan ProvinceHan ChineseCotton2724.234266
50.9cm x 36.8cmSichuan ProvinceHan ChineseCotton2724.234266
44cm x 33cmHan ChineseSichuan ProvinceCotton2724.234298
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Lion at the top and qilin (mythical creature) at the bottom. A fish is next to the qilin. 202cm x 32cmShaanxi ProvinceHan ChineseCotton2724.234021
Photographer(s):S. Grant(c) (c) The Field Museum
