Red-foundation Short-sleeve Burnout Velvet Cheongsam with Golden Floral Patterns Front

This is a cheongsam worn by young ladies in the late era of Republican China (1912-1949 AD). With the traditional no-seam design between shoulder and sleeves, the narrow single-color piping, simple frogs and a diagonal placket from collar to the right side of the body, this piece of mandarin gown looks elegant and grandeur. And its splendor is further accentuated by the lustrous and drapable textile of burnout velvet.
The museum would like to extend its gratitude to Mr. Chen in Beijing who donated this item. What’s interesting is that there were also two cut-off sleeves in the same fabric in company with this donated gown, which indicates that this short-sleeve cheongsam was adapted from a long-sleeve one probably due to the change of trend, or the virtue of thrifty.