A very rare Chinese patchwork celebration jacket, Qing Dynasty, late 19th century, worn at Festivals by a young girl, the patchwork pattern was often embroidered by the mothers of the village each bestowing their love into the patch and lovingly given as a gift to the child, his was then made into a special auspicious garment to be worn at a birthday or coming of age party, the squares are embroidered with the 100 children playing games in the heavenly gardens interspersed with flowers of all seasons, edged with an original band of bright pink ribbon, lined with original coral coloured silk, 112cm cuff to cuff x 70cm neck to hem Provenance: From the collection of the author Mrs J.C. Cooper 1905 - 1999 (author of An Illustrated Encyclopaedia of Traditional Symbols and Taoism: The Way of the Mystic amongst other books). The daughter of a Director of the Chinese Inland Mission, she was born in northern China in 1905 and went to school in China and England before studying Philosophy at St Andrew’s University, Scotland. She became a lecturer in Philosophy, Comparative Religion and Symbolism. Her later years were spent as an author writing from her remote home in the Lake District. During her childhood travels, the family collected many Chinese artefacts including this group of costumes.清19世纪晚期 童子百纳衣拍品来源：J.C. Cooper女士（《传统纹样及道教》一书作者）私人收藏

in good condition with fresh colours and some minor wear only commensurate with age