Antique Early Qing Dynasty Imperial Chinese Silk Buzi Rank Badge Mandarin Square

Description: Free eBay listing template designed by dewiso.com Qing Dynasty Civil Officer Rank Badge-Panel Bearing Paradise Flycatcher This is a listing for an antique silk brocade Mandarin square, otherwise known as a "Buzi" (補子) or a rank badge. The dimensions for the frame can be found below. This badge is encased in a solid wood frame made within the last ~100 years, complete with brass handles on either end. Dated feltwork and a moisture barrier can be seen on the backside of the case. I've seen a handful of preserved Imperial rank badges displayed in similar tray-like frames, with this being one of the more substantial implementations. This badge indicates that the original wearer would have held the highest civil rank available during both the Ming and Qing dynasties, depicting either an Oriole (Ming-leaning) or Paradise Flycatcher (Qing-leaning). There was a brief period of time where both the Oriole and Flycatcher would have been in use as civil rank insignias, leading me to believe that this particular buzi might hail from the "Kangxi Period" - 1662 to 1722.For a bit of background, badges featuring bird insignia were used to denote the ranks of Imperial Chinese civil officers, just as mythical creatures were used to denote military rank. I've included an educational photo (#5) demonstrating how buzi were traditionally worn. Attaining civil official ranks in Imperial China required years of study - it's believed that birds were chosen as insignia due to their literary associations. For the Qing Dynasty, the rankings were as follows: crane, golden pheasant, peacock, wild goose, silver pheasant, egret, mandarin duck, quail and paradise flycatcher. The preceding Ming Dynasty, if I am not mistaken, was much the same, spare for a handful of changes made during the intervening Kangxi Period. If you are a scholar specializing in the Ming and Qing dynasties and have spotted any oversights or inaccuracies in my description, I would invite you to reach out.This buzi is in fantastic condition given the age range (~362 years, give or take) that I've described above. We have not removed the insignia from the frame, and we suspect that it has been in there for several generations. You'll note an area towards the bottom of the badge where the embroidered, raised silk threading appears to have an exceptional metallic sheen. I believe this section of the embroidering contains silver wrapped threading. Metallic threads were commonly used in rank insignias belonging to higher ranks, with precious silver and gold gilt being used. I can scarcely imagine the expertise required for the crafting of these constituent components. The frame itself is in relatively good condition, although I've been using extreme caution while handling it. A small splinter of wood fell from the frame during our first examination and we've yet to identify precisely where this splinter originated. Photos from every angle have been included in this listing. It's also worth noting that we have been handling this piece with acid free fabric gloves, similar to what you might find at a museum's conservatory. This is a historical treasure and, as such, deserves every bit of care and caution that can be reasonably employed. We'd advise its future owner to keep it out of direct sunlight. Dimensions & Weight Dimensions: 13.5" Length x 1.3" Width x 12.75" Height Weight: 1lb 6oz Contact us We can be contacted at any time through eBay messages if you have any questions, comments or product requests. We will respond to you within 24 hours and do our best to help you out! We encourage our customers to contact us with any questions or concerns! We'd like to be sure you are completely satisfied with your purchase. © Dickson Antiques 2022 Disclaimer Item condition is reflected in the listing photos. Any condition statement given, as a courtesy to a client, is only an opinion and should not be treated as a statement of fact.

Price: 349 USD

Location: Tulsa, Oklahoma

End Time: 2025-01-17T10:24:39.000Z

Shipping Cost: 0 USD