Tags | Collection of Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum

We have 5 objects tagged auspicious symbols.

Small robe, possibly for a statue, with a tiny rounded neckline and asymmetrical closure, with yellow silk ties at the neck and side; side openings are edged with bright blue silk. In yellow silk tapestry weave, kesi, with metallic gold dragons on the front, back, shoulders and sleeves. The ground is filled with clouds motifs in blue and green; flaming pearls, bats, and other auspicious symbols. At the bottom is a deep wave border of multicolored diagonal stripes.
This small robe was most likely used to clothe a deity statue in a Daoist temple. The 5-clawed dragon and the bright yellow color were symbols of the Emperor of China, indicating that this robe was an imperial donation to a temple or used to clothe an image of a legendary emperor.

Robe For A Statue (China), late 18th century
silk, metallic.
Museum purchase from Au Panier Fleuri Fund.
1960-32-2

This object is part of the Textiles Department collection.
There are 3 images of this object.

Robe with rounded neckline, diagonal closure across right shoulder, slits at center front and back hem, and horseshoe-shaped sleeve cuffs.Twelve-symbol robe with ultramarine ground with deep wave border of diagonal stripes, clouds, gold dragons, and many other symbols all over. Blue and gold striped sleeves. Lined with pale blue silk damask.

Robe (China), 19th century
silk, metallic.
Museum purchase through gift of Erskine Hewitt.
1949-41-1

This object is part of the Textiles Department collection.
There are 4 images of this object.

Long robe of brown satin embroidered in colored silks and metallic yarns. Long sleeves of black taffeta with embroidered horse-shoe cuffs. Diagonal front closure with a band of black satin, embroiderd in colored silks. Three 5-toed dragons on front, worked in gold with red silk flames. Background of cloud bands in colors, interspersed with auspicious symbols such as bat, peony, swastika, flaming pearl, lotus, jar, fish. Deep wave border at bottom.

Man's Robe (China), 1796–1820
silk, metallic yarns.
Museum purchase from Au Panier Fleuri Fund.
1960-32-1

This object is part of the Textiles Department collection.
There are 5 images of this object.

Short coat of of orange-red silk twill, with large medallions on the front, back and on each sleeve, and sleevebands, in polychrome Kesi tapestry wtih some painted lines and shading. Borders of blue-gold kesi around neck and side opening, hem and sleeves. Lined with light blue peony-patterened damask. Medallions contain many symbols: dragons, lotus, fish, sacred vase, the endless knot, etc.

Woman's Short Jacket (China), late 19th–early 20th century
silk, metallic yarns.
Gift of Marian Hague.
1960-154-1

This object is part of the Textiles Department collection.
There are 3 images of this object.

Daoist Priest's Robe (China), 19th century
silk, metallic yarns.
Gift of Harvey Smith.
1968-135-77

This object is part of the Textiles Department collection.
There are 7 images of this object.