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Patchwork textiles have a long history in China that dates back almost two
millennia. The fabric scraps that make up this garment would have been kept
from other projects or gifted from friends and neighbors, imbuing the clothing
with a sense of community and care. While this museum holds examples of
fine Chinese silk embroidered textiles in its collection, there are few examples
of items like this vest from a rural village made as an auspicious garment by a
mother for her young child.
Thumbnail-size images of copyrighted artworks are displayed under fair use, in accordance with guidelines recommended by the Code of Best Practices in Fair Use for the Visual Arts, published by the College Art Association in February 2015.
Child's vest
Wife of Chi Family (Chinese)
Chinese
Early 2000s
Medium/Technique
Chinese Patchwork
Dimensions
Height x width: 30.5 × 31.8 cm (12 × 12 1/2 in.)
Credit Line
Joel Alvord and Lisa Schmid Alvord Fund
Accession Number2020.39
CollectionsAsia, Contemporary Art, Fashion and Textiles
ClassificationsTextiles
Patchwork textiles have a long history in China that dates back almost two
millennia. The fabric scraps that make up this garment would have been kept
from other projects or gifted from friends and neighbors, imbuing the clothing
with a sense of community and care. While this museum holds examples of
fine Chinese silk embroidered textiles in its collection, there are few examples
of items like this vest from a rural village made as an auspicious garment by a
mother for her young child.
ProvenanceDecember 10, 2019, sold by the family of the artist, Xianyang, Binzhou county, Shaanxi Province to Dr. Nancy Berliner, Cambridge, MA; February 26, 2020, sold by Nancy Berliner to the MFA. (Accession Date: February 26, 2020)