The Cleveland Museum of Art

Collection Online as of December 13, 2025

Woman's Bridal Dress, Dragon Jacket

1800s

China, Qing dynasty

(1644-1911)
Silk, gilt-metal thread; embroidery
Overall: 104.2 x 153 cm (41 x 60 1/4 in.)
Gift of Elizabeth Wade Sedgwick 2005.135.1
Location: Not on view

Description

This three-piece bridal dress includes a dragon jacket, a pleated skirt, and a tabard, a short loose-fitting sleeveless vest. The ensemble reveals the high rank of her husband; it did not fall under the scope of the Qing dynasty sumptuary laws.

The woman's bridal trousseau contains a short red coat fastened on the side and wide sleeves. It is decorated with ten dragons and other cosmological motifs commonly found on court dress. The presence of ten dragons indicates that the wife's husband was a high-ranking official.
  • ?–2005
    Elizabeth Wade Sedgwick [1913–2013], Lexington, MA, given to the Cleveland Museum of Art
    2005–
    The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH
  • {{cite web|title=Woman's Bridal Dress, Dragon Jacket|url=false|author=|year=1800s|access-date=13 December 2025|publisher=Cleveland Museum of Art}}

Source URL:

https://www.clevelandart.org/art/2005.135.1