Manchu Woman's Unofficial Informal Robe, 19th century, L.54-3/4 x W.51-1/4 in., Embroidered silk gauze, China, 19th century, Designed for a young woman, this robe features a yellow scheme composed of a grid pattern with a scattered design of blue peonies against a white ground. The cuffs are embroidered with a multicolored peony scroll pattern, while the front, side, and cuff bands are embroidered with seasonal flowers, including grass orchid, peony, and plum, with bats and cicadas against a black ground. The yellow grid pattern features swastikas, a symbol adopted by Germanys Nazi (National Socialist) party in 1920. In this example, however, many years before that negative association, the symbol creates a pun of sorts. Pronounced 'wan' in Chinese, it sounds like 'ten thousand.' The swastika ground can be seen as a multiplier of the wealth and honor represented by the flowers times ten thousand.