Imperial Court Robe
Unknown Artist
Medium
Silk, metallic thread
Dimensions
57 x 36 in. (144.78 x 91.44 cm)
Classification
Costumes-Woven
Culture & Period
China · Qing dynasty (1644–1911), Kangxi period (1662–1722)
Department
Asian Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Purchase, Joseph Pulitzer Bequest, 1935
Accession Number
35.84.13
Tags
Art Historical Context
Step into the opulent world of China's Qing dynasty with this magnificent *Imperial Court Robe*, during the Kangxi period (1662–2). The Kangxi's reign marked a golden age of cultural flourishing and artistic refinement, and robes like this were reserved for the highest echelons of imperial society—emperors, empresses, or top officials. Woven from luxurious silk and shimmering metallic threads, this garment (measuring 57 x 36 inches) exemplifies the era's sartorial splendor, where clothing was not just attire but a profound statement of power and hierarchy. The robe's design likely features ma...