I. Short-sleeve Jacket in Silk Tabby

Ming Dynasty. 1368-1644 A.D

China National Silk Museum, Hangzhou

Inv. No. 1638

L73cm, W120cm

II. Pleated Skirt in Silk Tabby

Ming Dynasty. 1368-1644 A.D

Inv. No. 1639

China National Silk Museum, Hangzhou

L70cm, W196cm

III. Long-sleeve Dress in Figured Tabby Damask

Ming Dynasty. 1368-1644 A.D

China National Silk Museum, Hangzhou

Inv. No. 1640

L102cm, W65cm

This is a triplet belonging to an early Ming dynasty lady with the family name Qian. Such an outfit for women was common among the population South of the Yangtze during the Ming. One of the upper garments is a long-sleeve dress in figured tabby damask with diaper patterns on plain ground. It features front opening facing panels, a straight collar and tabby wrapped cuffs. The outer garment is a short-sleeve jacket in 1/1 plain tabby featuring front opening facing panels with two fastening strings, a straight collar with applique embroidery and a slit on each side starting from the armpit. The bottom piece is a pleated skirt with openings in the front and back. The pleats at the openings are twice as wide as those in other areas. With its sides proportioned like the head of a horse, skirts in this shape came to be known as the horse-face skirt during the Ming dynasty that followed. This skirt is also in silk tabby material. (XY)