Physical description
Coverlet of red velvet, embroidered with coloured floss silks and gold thead (gilt paper twister around pink silk). The pattern is outlined with white silk cord. In the centre is a large phoenix amid flowering stems within an eight-pointed compartment (formed by eight scrollwork and heart-shaped devices linked together, each enclosing a flower) with a leafy outline. The corners are occupied with portions of lobed compartments, each enclosinga vase from which issue symmetrical floral stems, and the remaining space is worked with smaller phoenixes and conventional plants bearing flowers and fruit. The wide border is filled with detached and interlacing floral stems with numerous tendrils. The lining is a cotton dyed brown with a vertical pattern of conventional peacocks and slender floral stems.
Place of Origin
China (probably, made)
Date
ca. 1600 (made)
Artist/maker
Unknown
Materials and Techniques
Silk velvet embroidered with silk and gilt threads
Dimensions
Length: 233.7 cm, Width: 203.2 cm
Object history note
Originally this object was loaned to the V&A from 2nd September 1909 - 27th April 1910. In 1911 the Museum purchased it from Messrs. Knight, Frank and Rutley of 20 Hanover Square, London. It had formerly been at Madryn Castle, Wales. It was said that it had been brought to Britain by Elihu Yale, a governor of Madras and one of the founders of Yale University [see letter 1910/3627].
It was originally believed that this coverlet was Indo-Portuguese, but it was decided in 2002 that it had most likely been made in China for a European market. A strikingly similar object is held by the V&A's South and South East Asia collection (see museum no. 1651-1903).
On entry to the Museum the condition of this object was noted as 'worn, velvet joined down the middle'.
Descriptive line
Embroidered velvet, ca. 1600; made in China for the European market.
Materials
Silk; Metal; Velvet
Techniques
Embroidering
Subjects depicted
Phoenix
Categories
Textiles; Embroidery
Collection
Textiles and Fashion Collection