Blue Silk Damask Jacket Jacket crosses over to right side and buttons at top right collar. and at bottom right of jacket. Damask pattern is a repeating butterfly design . From around the collar, down the right edge of the opening and to the bottom of the jacket is a multi layered edging. Along the hem of the jacket and directly in the middle the edging pattern rises up into a step shaped fountain pattern. There is a slit up the center in the front only. This pattern is repeated on the back. The inside layer is embroidered .25" band with blue outline, white center and alternating purple six petal flowers and green Buddhist endless knot pattern with a purple dot in the center. This is followed by .625" of space and then a band of braided metallic gold thread. This is followed by another space and then an embroidered band with blue outline, white line, purple line and then alternating butterfly patterns of blue with white and red dots on wings, purple wing ends and green antenna and a reverse image of white butterflies with with blue and red dots on wings, green wing ends, and purple antenna. This is followed by space and then the main edging 2.25" wide which has a light purple border with intricate embroidery on off - white back ground. This appears to have been done separately and sewn onto the jacket. The designs here include: green and blue Buddhist knots, wrapped thread curving vines and gourds, circles of pink and red flowers with green and blue leaves, blue flowers with green stems. The cuffs - W: 5.5" - are made of off white silk with elaborate embroidery. The edging of the cuff is two bands of light purple silk with an embroidered center with a geometric "Fu" design ( pattern derived from the chacter for happiness) in blue on edges and alternating facing blue dragons (?) with a blue and red ball in between them and above a green Buddhist endless knot. This alternates with a blue and white with green and red center Flaming Wheel - Buddhist symbol of teaching and law and infinite changing. There is another band of alternating butterflies as on jacket edging. This is followed by embroidery on off white silk and consists of: a central peacock in green, purple, pink, red and brown. This is surrounded by purple and blue flowers, green leaves and stems, two butterflies, and an intricate pattern in gold thread. This embroidery is only on one side of each sleeve. The jacket is fastened by two gold - brass buttons, with leaf pattern, on the bottom, two at the right side of the collar and one at the neck.

1996.016.001