Ruling from the Dragon Throne: Costumes of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) - Hardcover

Toward the end of nearly 2,000 years of imperial rule in China, the last dynasty, designated Qing, was led by the ethnically and culturally distinct Manchu people. The Manchu established a political organization using clothing fashioned after their nomadic roots to signify status and identity. Author John E. Vollmer details the characteristics of Manchu dynasty costume and its political, social, and cultural significance and influence in Chinese history. Included are descriptions of the various designs and symbology on the cloth, as well as diagrams illustrating garment-making technology and construction features, comprehensive notes, a bibliography, map, and chronology. A fascinating look at clothing and its strategic role in the politics of conquest, this book is an invaluable resource for scholars and collectors alike. Illustrated throughout, including private collection pieces photographed for the first time.

JOHN E. VOLLMER, one of the leading authorities on late imperial Chinese costume, is president of Vollmer Cultural Partnerships, Inc., a consulting firm specializing in exhibition design and gallery and museum planning, with offices in New York and Toronto. He was curator of the Royal Ontario Museum, Toronto, until 1983.