Pair of Mittens

2nd century BC

Not on view

Returned to lender

This work of art was on loan to the museum and has since been returned to its lender.

This pair of mittens was one of numerous luxury items found in the compartment of Lady Dai’s coffin that symbolized her living space. Each mitten comprises three types of fabric: plain tabby for the main body, lozenge-patterned gauze as the central ornament, and hand-braided ribbon as the border decoration. Braided into the ribbon at equal intervals are two characters in seal script—qian jin (literally, “thousand gold”), an expression of wealth. An extremely labor-intensive product, this type of refined braidwork was seldom seen after the Han dynasty.

Artwork Details

Overview

Provenance

Exhibition History

西汉 “千金绦饰”罗绮手套
Title: Pair of Mittens
Period: Western Han dynasty (206 BCE–9 CE)
Date: 2nd century BC
Culture: China
Medium: Silk complex gauze, plain weave in silk, and braided silk ribbon
Dimensions: a) H. 10 7/8 in. (27.6 cm); W. 3 7/16 in. (8.8 cm)
b) H. 10 7/8 in. (27.6 cm); W. 3 1/8 in. (8 cm)
Framed: H. 19 3/8 in. (49.2 cm); W. 22 1/8 in. (56.2 cm); D. 11/16 in. (1.8 cm)
Classification: Textiles-Embroidered
Credit Line: Lent by Hunan Provincial Museum
Curatorial Department: Asian Art