Brown Silk Informal Robe for a Woman

A brown silk twill robe embroidered with many multi-coloured butterflies, rendered in smooth satin stitches of multi-coloured silk floss. Wide sleeves end in a faux folded cuff exposing a white silk sleeve lining embroidered with a blue floral motif. The cuffs, neckline, and two side vents are edged with black silk twill trim embroidered with a blue floral motif. These trims are also accompanied by commercial silk ribbons with geometric designs. Ruyi, an auspicious wish-granting symbol, sit atop either side vent and are further accentuated by the aforementioned commercial ribbons. The robe is lined with a bright blue silk damask with a floral pattern. This type of robe, referred to as a changyi, is a type of informal garment for a Manchu woman. This garment, with long side slits, would have been worn over a full-length underdress to preserve modesty. The "one hundred" butterflies motif was especially popular among older women, as the homophonous translation of "butterflies" (?? or húdié) means 80 or 90 years old and represents longevity.