Han Chinese Woman’s Skirt (qun) with Design of Flowers and Butterflies with Stylized Floral Scroll Borders on a Yellow Ground

This skirt comprises three flat and two pleated panels of bright yellow silk damask. The fabric panels are attached to a wide cotton waistband with a loop at each end for attachment. The flat panels are highlighted with a wide border of gold-wrapped threads and a narrow black trim. Butterflies and floral sprays are embroidered on two of the flat panels primarily using colored floss silk in satin stitch. These are surrounded on three sides by a border of light blue flowers on dark blue leafy scrolls. The pleated sections are less densely embroidered with floral sprays. Only the lower portion of the skirt is decorated as it is the only part which would show beneath the upper garment.