Physical description Large hanging composed of three loom widths. There is a wide border of red key-fret bands with dragons between, and a broader band of lucky symbols. There is a narrow bottom border of key-frets and dragons. The main field has a front facing dragon surrounded by four flying dragons amid clouds and lucky symbols. The ground is blue satin weave silk and the design is produced by polychrome and gold patterning wefts. The hanging is lined with thin yello plain weave silk. Place of Origin China (made) Date 1800-1930 (made) Artist/maker Unknown Materials and Techniques Satin weave silk with polychrome and gilt patterning wefts lined with plain weave silk Dimensions Length: 234 cm, Width: 209 cm Object history note Registered File number 1965/3344. Descriptive line Quilt cover, blue silk satin with polychrome and gilt patterning wefts, China, 1800-1930 Bibliographic References (Citation, Note/Abstract, NAL no) Wilson, Verity, Chinese Textiles, London:V&A Publications, 2005, page 45, plate 46. Wilson, Verity, 'A Diplomat's Collection: The Chinese Textiles of Sir John Addis' in Arts of Asia vol.33 no.2, 2003, pp.90-101, plate 20 Labels and date Five four-clawed dragons are surrounded by attributes of the Daoist Eight Immortals and by Buddhist and other traditional auspicious motifs. The motif of the boat with the official hat sprouting from a pomegranate and a sword belt forms a rebus that reads: 'may my family of military officials continue for generations'. The many co-ordinated symbolic references suggest that this cover was woven to order of to attract a particular group of Chinese customers, namely those who had the aspirations to become senior officials. [] Materials Silk (textile); Metal thread Techniques Satin weave; Plain weave Subjects depicted Dragons; Clouds Categories Textiles; Household objects Collection East Asia Collection Coloured silk panels such as this were woven as quilt covers, and this example has a paper label glued to it which describes it as being for this purpose. Chinese beds sometimes have two or three such quilts neatly folded and stacked up at one end during the day. This cover has a blue satin ground brocaded in several colours and gold with five four-toed dragons surrounded by the attributes of the Daoist Eight Immortals and by Buddhist and other emblematic motifs.
Physical description Large hanging composed of three loom widths. There is a wide border of red key-fret bands with dragons between, and a broader band of lucky symbols. There is a narrow bottom border of key-frets and dragons. The main field has a front facing dragon surrounded by four flying dragons amid clouds and lucky symbols. The ground is blue satin weave silk and the design is produced by polychrome and gold patterning wefts. The hanging is lined with thin yello plain weave silk. Place of Origin China (made) Date 1800-1930 (made) Artist/maker Unknown Materials and Techniques Satin weave silk with polychrome and gilt patterning wefts lined with plain weave silk Dimensions Length: 234 cm, Width: 209 cm Object history note Registered File number 1965/3344. Descriptive line Quilt cover, blue silk satin with polychrome and gilt patterning wefts, China, 1800-1930 Bibliographic References (Citation, Note/Abstract, NAL no) Wilson, Verity, Chinese Textiles, London:V&A Publications, 2005, page 45, plate 46. Wilson, Verity, 'A Diplomat's Collection: The Chinese Textiles of Sir John Addis' in Arts of Asia vol.33 no.2, 2003, pp.90-101, plate 20 Labels and date Five four-clawed dragons are surrounded by attributes of the Daoist Eight Immortals and by Buddhist and other traditional auspicious motifs. The motif of the boat with the official hat sprouting from a pomegranate and a sword belt forms a rebus that reads: 'may my family of military officials continue for generations'. The many co-ordinated symbolic references suggest that this cover was woven to order of to attract a particular group of Chinese customers, namely those who had the aspirations to become senior officials. [] Materials Silk (textile); Metal thread Techniques Satin weave; Plain weave Subjects depicted Dragons; Clouds Categories Textiles; Household objects Collection East Asia Collection Coloured silk panels such as this were woven as quilt covers, and this example has a paper label glued to it which describes it as being for this purpose. Chinese beds sometimes have two or three such quilts neatly folded and stacked up at one end during the day. This cover has a blue satin ground brocaded in several colours and gold with five four-toed dragons surrounded by the attributes of the Daoist Eight Immortals and by Buddhist and other emblematic motifs.