USC Pacific Asia Museum
Pasadena, California 91101
Open Wednesday through Sunday 10am to 6pm
EXHIBITION
Rank and Style:
Power Dressing in Imperial China
October 12, 2007 - January 27, 2008
Badge for a Censor with a Xiexhi (mythical animal), China, Ming dynasty, 15th c., silk brocade;
Chris Hall Collection Trust, Image copyright of Asian Civilisations Museum,
National Heritage Board, Singapore
“In the past Chinese silk was so valuable that the Roman Empire was nearly bankrupted by the cost of importing it, while Columbus discovered America by accident in his attempt to sail to China and buy Chinese silk at source. Unfortunately silk is fragile so very little has survived to show what our ancestors spent so much time and gold to acquire. It therefore gives me pleasure to show some of the few Ming badges that are still in good condition and enable people to appreciate the achievements of Chinese textile artists of the past.” – Chris Hall
For generations China’s rulers wore emblems on their robes that identified their place in a complex system of rank and privilege. This exhibition explores how this imperial hierarchy was maintained through the bestowing and wearing of exquisitely woven and embroidered ‘rank badges,’ as they have become known in the West. Identity and status, so carefully crafted and preserved among China’s elite, were expressed primarily through garments and their decoration, making them virtually a second skin – so intimately connected to one’s person that even in death wearing the appropriate badge assured a continuation of earthly status. The exhibition is rich in a wide variety of rank and festival badges worn by the emperor, members of the imperial household, and civil and military officials.
Rank and Style: Power Dressing in Imperial China presents for the first time in the United States selections from the Chris Hall Collection of Hong Kong. These rare and exquisite rank badges date from 1500 to the mid-19th century, with many from the Ming Dynasty (1368–1644). Numerous badges feature woven or embroidered mythical creatures such as the dragon and phoenix, while others depict rabbits, cranes and tigers. Additional pieces in the exhibition are drawn from the collections of the USC Pacific Asia Museum and local collections.
Dale Gluckman, Guest Curator
This exhibition will be part of the fourth city-wide collaboration of Pasadena’s cultural institutions, “Art and Ideas.”
Related Events
To enhance visitor understanding and appreciation of the beautiful textile objects that will be on view, USC Pacific Asia Museum is proud to provide the community with a variety of public programs and special events, currently planned as follows:
Wednesday, October 10, 5-6:30pm
Pre-Opening Lecture:
Collector Chris Hall on Rank Badges
The Chris Hall Collection Trust’s rank badge collection is one of the finest in the world, particularly noted for its many rare and early examples of rank badges. A longtime resident of Hong Kong, Mr. Hall has painstakingly crafted a collection that reveals his appreciation of the textile arts. By focusing his collecting on under-recognized areas, he is well known for bringing new and interesting pieces to light. Join Chris Hall in person to hear more about his adventures in collecting these treasures, which are on view for the first time in the United States in the exhibition Rank and Style: Power Dressing in Imperial China. Co-sponsored by the Textile Group of Los Angeles. Free with admission. To R.S.V.P., call (626) 449-2742, ext. 31. Space is limited.
Saturday, November 3, 2007, 12noon-4pm
Free Family Festival
In celebration of the new exhibition Rank and Style: Power Dressing in Imperial China, this all-ages festival will focus on activities related to Imperial Chinese culture and the symbolism of dragons, birds, lions, tigers, flowers and lanterns in works of art. Free.
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David Hugus |
Sunday, November 11, 2pm
Lecture “Decoding Rank Badges” with David Hugus
Rank badge expert David Hugus brings his extensive knowledge of this treasured art form to USC Pacific Asia Museum. Co-author of the comprehensive Ladder to the Clouds, Hugus gives a wonderful presentation for everyone from interested novice to experienced collector. The first in a three-part series, this lecture covers the qualification examination process, and how to identify the birds and animals pictured. In conjunction with the exhibition, Rank and Style: Power Dressing in Imperial China. Co-sponsored by the Textile Group of Los Angeles. Free with admission. To R.S.V.P., call (626) 449-2742, ext. 31. Space is limited.
Thursday, November 15, 7-10pm
Film Screening “The Last Emperor”
Winner of nine Academy Awards, Bernardo Bertolucci’s “The Last Emperor” captures the drama of life in the last days of the Chinese Imperial court. Screened under the stars in the museum courtyard, weather permitting. Seating provided or beach chairs welcome. Co-sponsored by USC Pacific Asia Museum’s Chinese Arts Council. Free with admission. To R.S.V.P., call (626) 449-2742, ext. 31. Space is limited.
Saturday, November 17, 1-1:30pm
Performance “The Calligrapher’s Dream” by Patricia Bulitt
A sleeping calligrapher’s journey into spring is portrayed through poetic prose and dance. Featuring a hand-painted paper dress and set by Patricia Bulitt, with Chinese calligraphy by Feng Cheng. Commissioned by The Asian Art Museum of San Francisco in honor of “Hidden Meanings in Chinese Art” Exhibition. This performance is made possible through a generous gift from Lorna McFarland, MD, and USC Pacific Asia Museum. Free with admission. To R.S.V.P., call (626) 449-2742, ext. 31. Space is limited.
Saturday, November 17, 2pm
Curator's Tour of the exhibition, Rank and Style: Power Dressing in Imperial China with Dale Gluckman. Experience the splendor of the textiles on view through the eyes of Dale Gluckman, the exhibit’s guest curator. Recently retired after 23 years as Curator of Costume and Textiles at Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Gluckman now works as an independent curator and consultant around the world. Free with admission. To R.S.V.P., call (626) 449-2742, ext. 31. Space is limited.
Saturday, December 1, 1-2:30pm
Lecture “Collectors’ Talk: Chinese Children’s Hats”
Lovingly sewn and embroidered by mothers throughout the centuries, Chinese children often wear hats emblazoned with powerful protective images and wishes for good health and fortune. Local collectors Sunny Stevenson, Gloria Mills and Louise Su Tang will share some favorite pieces, and give an overview of the symbolism and folklore of this wonderful and collectable folk art. Free with admission. To R.S.V.P., call (626) 449-2742, ext. 31. Space is limited.
Saturday, December 8, 8:30am decorating, 10-10:45am parade
20thth Annual KidSpace Rose Bud Parade
Arguably Pasadena’s shortest and cutest annual parade.
Sign up at the Nov. 3rd Festival for a discounted registration fee, for tickets or more info, call 626-449-9144.
Saturday, December 8, 10:30am-12noon
Lecture “Hidden Meanings in Chinese Art” with Terese Tse Bartholomew
Born in China and raised in Hong Kong, Terese Tse Bartholomew has been a curator at San Francisco’s Asian Art Museum since 1968, first as the Curator of Indian and South-east Asian Art, and now as the Curator of Himalayan Art and Chinese Decorative Art. Long recognized as a leading authority on Chinese iconography, her book Hidden Meanings in Chinese Art is heralded as the ultimate guide to the symbols, rebuses and visual puns central to Chinese art. She will speak on the rich iconography and hidden messages of rank badge embroidery. Co-sponsored by the Textile Museum Associates of Southern California. Free with admission. To R.S.V.P., call (626) 449-2742, ext. 31. Space is limited.
Sunday, December 9, 2pm
Lecture “Rank Badge Iconography” with David Hugus
Meant to impart vital information at a glance, understanding ancient rank badges today takes some practice. Join us and learn how to decode their many layers of meaning. As with all of his lectures, feel free to bring in your own rank badges to share with Dr. Hugus. Co-sponsored by the Textile Group of Los Angeles. Free with admission. To R.S.V.P., call (626) 449-2742, ext. 31. Space is limited.
Sunday, January 13, 2pm
Lecture “The Evolution of Badge Design Through the Qing Dynasty” with David Hugus
David Hugus wraps up his three-part series with a look at how rank badges developed over almost three hundred years of China’s Qing Dynasty. Program co-sponsored by the Textile Group of Los Angeles. Free with admission. To R.S.V.P., call (626) 449-2742, ext. 31. Space is limited.
More programs in January 2008 were still pending at
press time. For updates, check the “What’s New” page at
pacificasiamuseum.org, or call 626-449-2742 for information.
Left to right: Rank badge, China, 19th c., silk,
couched gold threads, Gift of Mrs. Paul Hunter,
1981.3.1,
collection of USC Pacific Asia Museum, photo by Julian Bermudez;
Badge with
Confronted Phoenixes, China, late
Ming dynasty, 1600–1644, silk tapestry
(kesi); Badge
with a Three-Quarter
Profile Dragon, China, Ming dynasty,
c. 1550, silk and metal thread
embroidery; previous two images Chris Hall Collection Trust, Image
copyright of Asian
Civilisations
Museum, National Heritage Board,
Singapore
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