A Chinese silk rank badge, late 19th Century

A Chinese silk embroidered rank badge, late 19th century (Reform period) showing a silver pheasant for the 5th civil rank (male).

The badge is embroidered in satin stitch in subtle colours of pale gold and pale blue on a black ground with couched gold stitching forming the sun and the detailing on the clouds. The badge is bordered with a pattern of two different shou characters for longevity.  The badge is presented glazed and framed.

Size (height x width): 30½ cm  x  31½ cm   (12” x12½ “)

Condition:  The satin stitching is in very good condition. There are some losses to the couching threads in the main picture and further couching thread losses to the border with several of the shou characters in the border missing.