This short jacket is known as a ‘magua’ 马褂 and was worn over a long robe (‘changshan’ or ‘changpao’) in the early 20th century in China and Hong Kong. It was the standard informal garment worn by men during the early Republican period.This silk satin jacket would have been worn by Mr Kaan Tat Choi’s son. Mr Kaan was a successful businessman in the bullion business. He expanded his business from Hong Kong to Malaya in the 1920s, acquiring several rubber plantations along the east coast of Malaya. Mr Kaan also opened a bullion trading company called “Yee Shing” at 20 Canal Road in Singapore in the 1930s.
