Physical description
Back of a robe of silk tapestry (kesi), woven in coloured silks and gold thread on a yellow ground. A production of one of the imperial looms; intended to be worn by the emperor or a prince of the blood.
The design presents a medley of Confucian, Buddhist and Daoist symbolism. Three five-clawed dragons rise from the waves of the sea, encircled by clouds. The upper dragon represented full-face is coiled round a cosmic medallion with the shou (longevity) character in the centre surrounded by the hanging musical stone, the peach, bat and magic fungus, the attributes of the eight Daoist immortals and other emblens as signs of long life and felicity. The pair of dragons below grasp the flaming jewel of the Buddhist law. The cloud spaces are filled in with diverse forms of the shou character, flying bats, jewelled sceptres and floral sprays. Confucianism is symbolized by the battle-axe and the pair of sacrificial wine-cups.
Density 60x90 threads/sq.cm, cross- sectional width of warp 0.1mm, of weft 0.2mm.
Place of Origin
China (made)
Date
1736-1795 (made)
Artist/maker
Unknown
Materials and Techniques
Silk tapestry (kesi)
Dimensions
Length: 93.35 cm, Width: 111.76 cm at bottom
Object history note
Purchased with 1642-1901 for 15s. Registered File number 31783/1901.
Note on register:
Brocade of woven silk (kesi) shaped to make the back of a coat. Finely woven in shaded silks of many colours with the addition of gold thread to define the general outlines and to fill in the forms of the dragons, and the Chinese characters. Executed in the finished style of the Qianlong period (1736-95) without the employment of any painted brushwork to eke out the design.
Descriptive line
silk tapestry (kesi), China, Qing dynasty, Qianlong period (1736-95)
Materials
Silk (textile)
Techniques
Tapestry
Subjects depicted
Emblems (symbols); Flowers; Bats (animals); Taoism; Buddhism; Confucianism
Categories
Clothing; Textiles
Collection
East Asia Collection