Context (Field collection)
Collected by Rev John Neville Whitehorn (1925-2022), a minister of the United Reformed Church (URC), (former English Presbyterian Mission) in Taiwan 1951-1970.
Event Date 1969
Author: rachel hand

Context (Field collection)
Woman’s costume elements (2007.466-7, 2007.470-2) were presented to Rev. Whitehorn and his first wife, Elizabeth Hope Grant Whitehorn, by the churches of north-western Paiwan territory in 1969. The costume was probably made by people from the north and western side of the territory.
Event Date 1969
Author: maa

Context (Production / use)
The right to wear representations of snakes is reserved for people of high status.
Event Date 29/11/2007
Author: Heather Donoghue

Description (Physical description)
Woman’s black velvet robe, lined with cotton. It is a long-sleeved robe open on both sides, decorated with beaded designs of human figures and snakes with a butterfly on each side. The edges of robe and collar are decorated with metal discs, possibly aluminium, and beaded geometrical forms. Fastened by three buttons on the right-hand side on the robe. Also decorated with a strip of beadwork showing human figures from the neck area across the robes right’s breast, which is repeated on the cuffs.
Event Date 29/11/2007
Author: maa

Description (Physical description)
Tungpaw(?). Woman’s long-sleeved, wrap dress or robe of black velvet, lined with cotton or synthetic black fabric; open to side with buttons along top right. Round collar with orange zigzag beaded decoration and pink cotton lining. Garment edges on both sides decorated with band of geometric motifs in orange, yellow, green, white and black beads and further row of stitched aluminium discs with aluminium chain above. Centre and reverse front decorated with black and blue velvet appliquéd beaded butterfly at centre, with anthropomorphic figures flanked by snakes, above and below. Cuffs and right side of chest appliquéd with velvet panels of repeated beaded anthropomorphic figures with aluminium discs and chain below.
Event Date 25/3/2024
Author: Heather Donoghue