Smithsonian Cooper-Hewitt Museum

If you don't already might I suggest you sign up for the Smithsonian Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum Object of the Day email, and each day you will be amazed, enlightened, surprised and more learned about one of the treasures resting at the museum which fascinates someone in the museum world.

The photo above is of a small (43x47cm- 17x18.5 in) 18th century silk Chinese robe. Most likely the robe, with it's auspicious symbols, was used to cover a temple statue of a royal person.

My home state of Missouri had a morally conservative US Senator (John Ashcroft), who after losing a reelection bid to a dead man became US Attorney General in the second Bush administration. He objected to being photographed in the Department of Justice building's Great Hall, below the statues "Spirit of Justice" and "Majesty of Law" because the female statue had a wardrobe malfunction.

During his tenure as chief justice officer in the US, the female statue was draped in fabric.  A statue robe would have been so much more flattering.

Enjoy your Monday.
Toad