China : Royal gown replicas rejuvenate Ming era

Nanjing Brocade Research Institute, one of the earliest research institutions in industrial arts for New China, on Sunday, December 23, showcased replicas of two precious imperial gowns from the Ming Dynasty, which existed four hundred years ago.

These two gowns were unearthed from the Ming Dynasty Tombs, a UNESCO World Heritage Site located in the outskirts of Beijing, in 1958. The original gowns were in ragged condition when they were discovered.

These reproductions were created using high-quality brocade and fabrics which are quite rare. Each gown has a colourful embellishment of dragon patterns that resemble the original ones.

According to sources from NBRI, nearly 2,000 craftsmen were engaged for about three years, in re-creating the garments based on descriptions in historical documents.