Tenth in the Great Eras collection.

This listing is for Chinese Empress Barbie, tenth in the Great Eras Collection. This collector doll is NRFB (never removed from box). See box description below: ITEM DESCRIPTION: From head to toe, each piece of Chinese Empress Barbie’s costume merits description. Beginning with her hat, called a Manchu Cap or Chao Guan. Long ago the cap had an ornament that indicated the rank of the wearer: it could be bronze, crystal or jade. Her elaborate satin coat, Chao Pao,is emblazoned with a four-toed dragon, symbolizing her rank as a female member of the Chinese royal family; only males were allowed to wear the five-toed dragon. The sleeves of the coat are long enough to cover the Empress’ fingertips – as a member of royalty, her hands must be kept covered. Underneath her gown, the mandarin collar jacquard dress, Chao Qua, is in yellow, a color reserved for Chinese royalty. She wears red slippers fitted over molded platforms, typical of the period. Her jewelry is faux jade, the official “jewel” of the royal family. She wears faux jade drop earrings and one “jade” and one “golden” necklace, the Chao Zhu, whose length also indicated her rank. This beautifully created costume was typical of turn of the 20th century robes worn by the Dowager Empress Tz’u-his who reigned from 1861-1908 during the Ch’ing Dynasty, 1644-1911. Chinese Empress Barbie captures the ritual beauty and traditions of the Chinese royal family. BOX CONDITION: The box opens storybook style with velcro closure and cellophane over the inside. It is in excellent condition, but there is a small gray/silver dot on the back of the box near the bottom tab. Otherwise the box is in excellent condition.