Physical description Cushion cover of pattern woven yellow satin and silk. In the centre, a frontal, five-clawed dragon chasing a flaming pearl amid clouds, bats, and leafy scrolls; above the dragon's head is a circular form of the character shou (longevity); below the dragon are rocks and waves, all inside an oblong compartment with an undulating outline at the upper end. Outside the compartment are further five-clawed dragons pursuing flaming pearls, amid bats and floral scrolls. Place of Origin China (made) Date circa 1760-1820 (made) Artist/maker Unknown Materials and Techniques Pattern woven satin and silk Dimensions Length: 73.5 cm, Width: 71 cm Object history note T.134 to 143-1917 came from Viscountess Olseley whose husband had served with the British forces in China in 1860 and who wrote a book about the campaign and his experiences, in which he comments on the yellow cushions he saw in the Summer Palace and the fact that only members of the imperial family are able to use this colour. The Summer Palace or Yuanmingyuan, located north of Beijing, was destroyed by British and French troops during the Second Opium War in 1860. Historical context note Cushion cover for a shaped chair back. Descriptive line Cushion cover, pattern woven satin, China, c. 1760-1820 Bibliographic References (Citation, Note/Abstract, NAL no) Wilson, Verity. Chinese textiles. London: V&A publications, 2005. pp. 17 and 105, no. 12 and 117. Materials Silk Techniques Woven Categories Textiles; Interiors Collection East Asia Collection
Physical description Cushion cover of pattern woven yellow satin and silk. In the centre, a frontal, five-clawed dragon chasing a flaming pearl amid clouds, bats, and leafy scrolls; above the dragon's head is a circular form of the character shou (longevity); below the dragon are rocks and waves, all inside an oblong compartment with an undulating outline at the upper end. Outside the compartment are further five-clawed dragons pursuing flaming pearls, amid bats and floral scrolls. Place of Origin China (made) Date circa 1760-1820 (made) Artist/maker Unknown Materials and Techniques Pattern woven satin and silk Dimensions Length: 73.5 cm, Width: 71 cm Object history note T.134 to 143-1917 came from Viscountess Olseley whose husband had served with the British forces in China in 1860 and who wrote a book about the campaign and his experiences, in which he comments on the yellow cushions he saw in the Summer Palace and the fact that only members of the imperial family are able to use this colour. The Summer Palace or Yuanmingyuan, located north of Beijing, was destroyed by British and French troops during the Second Opium War in 1860. Historical context note Cushion cover for a shaped chair back. Descriptive line Cushion cover, pattern woven satin, China, c. 1760-1820 Bibliographic References (Citation, Note/Abstract, NAL no) Wilson, Verity. Chinese textiles. London: V&A publications, 2005. pp. 17 and 105, no. 12 and 117. Materials Silk Techniques Woven Categories Textiles; Interiors Collection East Asia Collection