Rank badge from the front of a robe or surcoat (the square is divided) showing a qilin, the badge of a military official of the 1st rank. The blue silk gauze ground is embroidered with coloured silks in tent stitches and couched gold thread. The qilin is almost entirely in couched gold thread. The animal is set on a rock above waves and water. The remainder of the ground is embroidered with an all-over swastika fret pattern in blue, and coloured clouds. The square has a key-fret border entirely in couched gold thread. Rank badge, blue silk gauze with coloured silk and gilt thread embroidery, China, Qing dynasty, ca. 1800