Satin Dog Vest with Chinese Crabapple and Chrysanthemum Designs on Green Ground

The Qing Imperial Household Department designated the Palace Kennel to manage the affairs related to raising the various canines of the court and imperial family. Investigation of Old Accounts Heard in the Precincts of the Throne (Rixia jiuwen kao) records the locations of the Palace Kennel inside the East Prosperity Gate (Donghua men) and that outside the Forbidden City inside the Gate of Eastern Peace (Dong’an men). The Kennel was overseen by a grand minister supervisor. The items used for and by the imperial household’s dogs were luxurious. This dog-vest was made of brilliantly colored silk fabric in the late Qing period.