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China Manchu Boy's Coat Embroidery on satin, 20th century Qing dynasty 23 in. Gift of Alma F. Spelman 1984:20 Detail

This small coat was made for a boy. The decoration, though simple, is exceedingly lovely. Each of the four embroidered medallions on this black satin coat contains five bats surrounding a ji character meaning "luck." In Chinese, the pronunciation of "bat" is the same as the pronunciation of "happiness." Thus the robe’s major decorative motif is a message of luck and happiness to the wearer.

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