Robe of State

19th century

Not on view

The robe of state, or chaofu, is the most formal of the imperial Qing robes, and was worn by the emperor and by his high officials during important annual rites. The slim-fitting sleeves and horse-hoof-shaped cuffs, which are vestiges of jackets for horseback hunting in cold weather, illustrate a Manchu adaptation of the traditional Han Chinese court dress, as does the shorter length of the garment. Such adaptations were formalized in 1759 when the style and decoration of court robes were standardized under regulations which also designated colors and designs for different types of robes. The dark blue color and four-clawed dragons on this robe indicate it would have been worn by an individual ranking somewhere between a third degree prince and a fourth degree official.

Artwork Details

Object Information

Overview

Provenance

Exhibition History

References

Title: Robe of State
Period: Qing dynasty (1644–1911)
Date: 19th century
Culture: China
Medium: Silk and metallic thread embroidery on silk satin
Dimensions: 52 x 52 in. (132.08 x 132.08 cm)
Classification: Costumes-Embroidered
Credit Line: Gift of Estate of Belle Dellenbaugh, 1917
Object Number: 17.82.2
Curatorial Department: Asian Art

More Artwork

In the same medium

From the same time and place

Archer's Ring (清扳指), Bone, Chinese — Archer's Ring (清扳指)
Chinese
17th–19th century

Robe (Kosode) with Floral Roundels, Figured satin-weave silk with tie-dyeing, silk embroidery, and couched gold thread, Japan — Robe (Kosode) with Floral Roundels
Japan
ca. 1670s

Ceremonial Armor for a High Ranking Official, Steel, copper, gold, silk, metallic thread, Chinese — Ceremonial Armor for a High Ranking Official
Chinese
18th century

Over Robe (Uchikake) with Fans and Flowers, Figured satin-weave silk with tie-dyeing, silk embroidery, and couched gold thread, Japan — Over Robe (Uchikake) with Fans and Flowers
Japan
second half 18th–first half 19th century

Bowl, Porcelain, Chinese, for American market — Bowl
Chinese, for American market
ca. 1860–66

Research Resources

The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.

To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.

Feedback

We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please contact us using the form below. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.

Send feedback

Content Notice

The Metropolitan Museum of Art presents over 5,000 years of art from around the world, and our online collection reflects ongoing work conducted over the course of our more than 150-year history. You may encounter objects or images that may be inappropriate for some viewers or information that may be outdated.