Woman's Chinese robe with matching two piece vest A: Robe, L: 53", W: 72", Appliqued silk satin robe has overlapping front with a diagonal closing on right side. Narrow stand up collar which is square in front, long body and long sleeves cut in one with the body. Center front and back sleeve. The background is lavender colored damask with motif of grayish cherry blossoms and bamboo leaves. There are bands of appliqued silk satin at the neck line, the bottom of the sleeves, on either side of the slits that open from the hem. Starting at the top the collar has a pink band with green blue and yellow piping and below this a bright blue band with yellow and green piping. The wavy bands radiating out from the neck line are black, bright blue, pink and yellow all piped with green, white or blue. Inset in the blue piece on the front is a pink lotus blossom e with a pod and leaf in reverse applique. The edges of the design are piped in green. The bands on either side of the openings are cloud shaped. The yellow outer band is piped in green next to a pink band piped in blue, green and white. Next is a bright blue cloud shaped band which has inserts of reverse applique designs. Near the top are two pink and white pomegranates with green leaves. Below these are white and pink peonies with green leaves and a pink bud. The outer band is black piped with green, blue and white. The bands extend across the bottom hem and are duplicated on the back. The bands on the sleeves are yellow, pink, bright blue and black satin piped in blue, green and white. The robe opens on the right side and has an under flap with a patch pocket which is hidden when the robe is closed. There are four spiral design frogs with loops and knot balls made of green satin. There are two more frogs double spirals at the neck and collar bone. In addition to the frogs there are snap fasteners. The garment is lined with blue silk. It has perspiration stains and other discoloration's. The inside neck is protected with a white cotton band which is soiled and has a piece of adhesive tape with the name "Helen Kay" written in blue ink. B & C; Two piece vest, H: 24". W: 22.25", Vest is made of the reverse of the robe with grayish blue satin and lavender cherry blossoms and bamboo leaves. All of the edges of both pieces of the vest are decorated with wavy bands of applique. The middle pink band has black bands on either side piped in green, blue and white. An inner woven ribbon band is off white with a design of pink and blue butterflies and chrysanthemums with yellowish green leaves. The outer border of this ribbon has a black key design running along both sides. The two pieces of the vest are fastened across the upper front and down the sides with green satin spiral frogs. Which have loops and metal buttons in gold and black with swastikas in the center. The vest is lined with blue silk. B: Is the back and front yolk of the vest with a stand up scalloped collar which has two wavy bands of black piped in green, blue and white satin and lined with dark blue silk. It fastens at the front with a loop and ball button and a frog one with a loop and a metal button. In addition to the applique bands on the back the vest has two reverse applique designs in the center and on the sides. The one in the center has padded yellow and pink Peonies with green leaves and a pink bud. The motifs on the sides are citron blossoms of yellow with pink piping and green leaves. At the back of the vest the background fabric in the middle back is discolored in two places and on the inside back is an adhesive tape with "Mrs. Lew G. Kay sleeveless Applique Vest" written in blue ink. C: Front of the vest Inaddition to applique bands there are four reverse applique designs. At the top on the chest is apadded green pink and yellow bat. With two little eyes drawn in in black ink. Just below this are two green and pink Chinese coins which are inter locked and surrounded by green, yellow and pink ribbon shapes. The motif in the lower center front is the same peony design as the back. The two citron blossoms on each side are duplicates of the back. On the right side the two buttons have blue faceted glass centers instead of the swastika. Both the front and the back have a vent.

1997.002.009