Physical description
Screen of Indian blackwood. The screen is mounted with an embroidery in coloured silks on white satin (under glass); it is supported by two Buddhist lions (dogs of fo).
The pattern of the embroidery shows a tree and flowers growing on rocks beside a lake; a pair of mandarin ducks are seen swimming, on the shore are two egrets and a dayal; near the dayal, on the edge of water, is a crab. Two golden pheasants and two pigeons are perched on the rocks, near the tree, on the tree, or flying near it are two rings parroquets, the Northern white Australian parrot, the Paradisaea apoda (one of the species of the birds of Paradise groups), two cranes, two swallows, three crested starling, two wax-wings, a bulbul, a kingfisher, and five other birds, belong to two different species which cannot be determined (one of them with long tails, appears to be mythical). With the exception of the Northern white Australian parrot and the Paradisaea apoda, which is a native of New Guinea, all the recognised birds are to be found in China. The flowers shown on the embroidery include peonies, magnolias, peach-blossoms, asters about which four butterflies and two bees are flitting; lotus grow in the water. The screen is carved in openwork lattice ornament and floral stem.
Place of Origin
China (made)
Date
19th century (made)
Artist/maker
Unknown
Materials and Techniques
Embroidered silk satin, with openwork carved wood mount
Dimensions
Length: 53 in, Width: 38.75 in
Object history note
Registered File number 1922/3746.
Descriptive line
Screen, mounted with an embroidery in coloured silks on white satin, China, Qing dynasty, 19th century
Materials
Silk (textile); Silk thread; Wood
Techniques
Satin; Embroidered; Mounted; Carving
Subjects depicted
Flowers; Birds
Categories
Textiles; Embroidery
Collection
East Asia Collection