This traditional Chinese outfit was worn by the donor's maternal grandmother to her sister-in-law's wedding in Hong Kong in 1930. Weddings in China are treated with the utmost seriousness and are of paramount importance, not only for the bride and groom, but also for their families and villages in which the couple lived. This is reflected in the choice of colour and design featured on this traditional Chinese costume. The skirt is in the auspicious colour of red and the peony motif symbolises wealth and distinction. Since the Ming Dynasty, wearing red to weddings is a favoured colour as it is considered to bring good fortune.

This striking outfit featuring gold and silver couched embroidery exemplifies the beauty and elegance of Chinese embroidery. The practice of adorning clothes with embroidery has a long history in China. The fine workmanship and vitality in design featured on the jacket and skirt are a testament to the skill of Chinese embroiderers. Owing to the perishable nature of silk goods, embroidered objects are highly prized and collectable for their artistic beauty.

Outfit, in original box, womens, skirt and top, silk satin / metal thread / paper / twine, made by the Palace Silk Company, Hong Kong, 1930

Women's outfit comprising jacket in black silk featuring a peony floral spray design in gold and silver couched embroidery and skirt in red silk, also with gold and silver couched embroidery. Full length skirt in red silk satin with sewn down pleats, embroidered in couched gold wrap thread of peony floral sprays with a deep sea and wave design running vertically and featuring a coiled metal fringe around the hemline.

Top in black silk satin with ¾ length sleeves features the design 'Isle of the Immortals' embroidered in couching of green, yellow, orange, red, gold and silver metal wrapped threads. The mandarin collar features a double toggle fastening of a decorative flower shaped frog in pink and green and a cloth pendant embroidered ribbon. Silk lining in pink with side splits and centre back split.

Original box featuring a rope hinge, carry handle and tie. Decorating the lid of the box and a narrow strip around the bottom edge of the box, the stylised longevity and endless knot symbols printed in green on a natural ground, Chinese characters and 'THE PALACE SILK Co. / 238 Nathan Road, Kowloon. TEL. No. 64619' printed on a red ground top right corner.

Outfit comprising jacket and skirt made by the Palace Silk Company in Hong Kong in 1930. The jacket features a peony (mu-dan) motif which symbolises wealth and the wave motif (li shui) represents deep water.

The jacket and skirt feature couching which is an overlay of a heavy single or double thread in a pattern and sewn with fine stitches. Fastening stitches must be evenly spaced and uniform in length. Thread of contrasting colour is thinner and adds to the variation in the tone of the design.

The outfit comprising a jacket and skirt was worn by the donor's maternal grandmother Mrs Sui Ching O'Young (1901-1992) to the wedding of her sister-in-law Eileen O'Young to Y.K. Fung in Hong Kong, 1930.

Gift of Elaine Hor, 2007

Marks - Label on top: purple with yellow embroidered Chinese characters

2007/167/1

1930