👋 A B O U T

A spectacular vintage formal Chinese bridal skirt (qun). Featuring a scarlet red silk satin ground, heavy with the drape and weight of quality silk, nearly overtaken by dense couched goldwork: pairs of five-clawed dragons chase flaming pearls through scrolling clouds, while silver-threaded phoenixes wind through peony branches below — the traditional dragon-and-phoenix pairing reserved for wedding regalia, symbolizing the union of groom and bride. The sides of the skirt are deeply pleated.  The hem is finished with a scalloped wave-and-cloud border and a deep fringe of glass beads and  pearls in bell and round shapes. The handwork here is exceptional — raised metal-wrapped thread laid in tight coils and couched by hand, built up almost sculpturally at the dragons’ heads and the cloud swirls. This is museum-caliber goldwork, the kind that took skilled embroiderers weeks per motif. I am not certain what the exact time period of this piece is. 

Please note: I think the crossed straps and suspender waistband are a later addition, not part of the garment’s original construction — this is a reworked antique textile rather than an intact period skirt. It appears the glass and pearl trim were also later editions. The skirt has a drawstring waist and hidden snaps up the side. The skirt is so heavy I think the shoulder straps were added to support the weight of it. In excellent condition, clean and ready to wear. 

✂️ M E A S U R E M E N T S

waist: up to 30"
Hips: up to 44"
Total Length: 39"

Fits a small to medium, waist cinches with drawstring band

Label: none 
Material: silk, metallic thread
Condition:  overall excellent, freshly cleaned and ready to wear. Minor signs of wear typical of age. 

All of our pieces are thoroughly inspected and repaired by our in house professional seamstress prior to shipping to ensure your garment is in ready to wear condition upon arrival. We ship our items out on Thursdays. Please allow extra time for wedding dresses and large orders. 

*Please compare measurements to a garment you currently own to ensure proper fit! Please note: most of our pieces are clipped to fit our dress forms (bust: 34" waist: 23")



💖 F O L L O W

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