Physical description
Circular panel in 9 shaped sections; embroidered silk in various colours with the image of an old man in a red robe, with a wooden staff, with a small spotted yellow deer with a branch sprig in its mouth, on a silver silk ground. Other panels which form an overall quatrefoil shape, have floral motifs, with large flowers, leaves and stems, with the top lobe panel having a large butterfly all in various colours. Each section bound with satin. Backed with green silk.
Place of Origin
China (made)
Date
1920s (made)
Artist/maker
Unknown
Materials and Techniques
Embroidered silk
Dimensions
Diameter: 36 cm
Registered File number 1947/374. From the collection of Bernard Vuilleumier.
Descriptive line
Circular mirror case, embroidered silk, China, 1920s
Materials
Silk (textile) SummaryMore informationDownload PDF version
This is a decorative roundel made of embroidery on panels of woven silk. It may have been made to be used as a decorative cover for the surface of a side table.
The symbols on the roundel indicate that this would have been used on in interiors for an older person, perhaps even in celebration of a birthday. The central figure is that of the God of Longevity, accompanied by a deer (which is also a longevity symbol). Other symbols contributing to the theme of longevity are the peach, and the butterfly which is the symbol of a person who has attained seventy to eighty years of age.
The previous owner of this piece, Bernard Vuilleumier, collected Chinese textiles such as this one out of an interest in Chinese symbols.
Techniques
Embroidering
Categories
Textiles; Embroidery
Collection
East Asia Collection