second half of the 18th century
China
Object qualities
-
Objecttextile (towels, carpets, etc.): Hanging
-
Type of arts & crafts
-
MediumSilk satin embroidered with silk
-
SizeOverall: 95 1/4 x 87 1/4 in. (241.9 x 221.6 cm)
-
Geography details
China -
Country today
-
Datesecond half of the 18th century
-
CultureChina, for the European market
-
PeriodQing dynasty (1644-1911)
Source of information
-
Type of sourceDatabase “Metropolitan Museum of Art”
-
Fund that the source refers toMetropolitan Museum of Art
Description
-
The design of the vibrant flowers on this Chinese hanging marks it as an export for Europe. Unlike typical Chinese flowers, their centers dramatically protrude and contrast sharply with the petals, signaling the influence of Indian export textiles with similar floral forms. However, the container of flowers rests on a distinctly Chinese garden rock, stitched in blue and white. Immaculately finished on both sides, the contrasting yellow selvages visible on the red side mark the yellow as the front. The hanging may have been used as a bed curtain, the red side visible to people inside the bed, while the yellow was exposed to the public eye.
cat. no. 29