Skip to main content
Li Chinese Skirt with Embroidered Band - Image 1
Li Chinese Skirt with Embroidered Band - Image 2
Li Chinese Skirt with Embroidered Band - Image 3
Li Chinese Skirt with Embroidered Band - Image 4
Li Chinese Skirt with Embroidered Band - Image 5
Li Chinese Skirt with Embroidered Band - Image 6
Li Chinese Skirt with Embroidered Band - Image 7

Li

Li Chinese Skirt with Embroidered Band

Li, Meifu, 1899

Thumbnail 1
Thumbnail 2
Thumbnail 3
Thumbnail 4
Thumbnail 5
Thumbnail 6
Thumbnail 7
Scroll

Li

Li Chinese Skirt with Embroidered Band

Li, Meifu, 1899

Physical Qualities Indigo-dyed cotton and hemp with supplementary warps and silk embroidery, 46 3/8 x 23 3/8 in. (sewn double) (117.8 x 59.4 cm.)
Credit Line Gift of Amy Gould and Matthew Polk, Gibson Island, Maryland
Object Number 2006.176
A skirt or sarong of tubular construction composed of six sections of cotton and hemp cloth, including five warp-faced indigo-dyed basket woven bands of roughly two sizes (6-7/8", 6" and 9-3/4"; 9-1/4" and 9-1/8") with an inset of embroidered plainwoven tan fabric 4-3/4" wide between the last two woven bands. The indigo dyed bands were woven on a backstrap loom and are decorated with ikat* designs in various patterns, including diamond shapes, abstracted humans (?), frogs(?), butterflies (?) dots, and lines. all of which are geometric. The woven sections are further decorated with bands of supplementary warp weaving in lighter blue, brown, and white. The woven patterning continues throughout the width of the skirt. The ikat patterning stops several inches before the joining vertical seam. The wide embroidered band near the bottom of the skirt is decorated in a series of diamonds within which are smaller diamonds and a central symbol. Rows of sawtooth figures form the borders.The embroidery is carried out in gold, light green, blue green, and dark navy blue cotton threads. A small section of a different embroidered band with only dark blue embroidery is employed (possibly as a patch) to fill up the end of this section. The horizontal sections are whip stitched together with dark blue thread on the inside of the skirt. The fabric composed of the joined bands is then sewn end to end with a vertical flat feld seam to create the tubular garment. The top and bottom edges of the shirt or sarong are selvage edges.
The Baltimore Museum of Art by gift, 2006; Matthew Polk, Gibson Island, Maryland, by purchase, Nov. 10, 2005
Rena Hoisington, The Baltimore Museum of Art, "New Arrivals: Gifts of Art for a New Century," February 7-May 8, 2016.

Anita Jones, "Curator's Choice: Recent Additions to the Textiles Collection, " Baltimore Museum fo Art, Baltimore, Jean and Allan Berman Textile Gallery, April 27 - November 27, 2011.

Inscribed: None.

Culture

Li

Meet Li

Explore the Collection Further

Li
Headcloth
1874
Li
Headcloth
1866