Physical description
Large hanging composed of three loom widths. There is a wide border of red key-fret bands with dragons between, and a broader band of lucky symbols. There is a narrow bottom border of key-frets and dragons. The main field has a front facing dragon surrounded by four flying dragons amid clouds and lucky symbols. The ground is blue satin weave silk and the design is produced by polychrome and gold patterning wefts. The hanging is lined with thin yello plain weave silk.
Place of Origin
China (made)
Date
1800-1930 (made)
Artist/maker
Unknown
Materials and Techniques
Satin weave silk with polychrome and gilt patterning wefts lined with plain weave silk
Dimensions
Length: 234 cm, Width: 209 cm
Object history note
Registered File number 1965/3344.
Descriptive line
Quilt cover, blue silk satin with polychrome and gilt patterning wefts, China, 1800-1930
Bibliographic References (Citation, Note/Abstract, NAL no)
Wilson, Verity, Chinese Textiles, London:V&A Publications, 2005, page 45, plate 46.
Wilson, Verity, 'A Diplomat's Collection: The Chinese Textiles of Sir John Addis' in Arts of Asia vol.33 no.2, 2003, pp.90-101, plate 20
Labels and date
Five four-clawed dragons are surrounded by attributes of the Daoist Eight Immortals and by Buddhist and other traditional auspicious motifs. The motif of the boat with the official hat sprouting from a pomegranate and a sword belt forms a rebus that reads: 'may my family of military officials continue for generations'. The many co-ordinated symbolic references suggest that this cover was woven to order of to attract a particular group of Chinese customers, namely those who had the aspirations to become senior officials. []
Materials
Silk (textile); Metal thread
Techniques
Satin weave; Plain weave
Subjects depicted
Dragons; Clouds
Categories
Textiles; Household objects
Collection
East Asia Collection
Coloured silk panels such as this were woven as quilt covers, and this example has a paper label glued to it which describes it as being for this purpose. Chinese beds sometimes have two or three such quilts neatly folded and stacked up at one end during the day. This cover has a blue satin ground brocaded in several colours and gold with five four-toed dragons surrounded by the attributes of the Daoist Eight Immortals and by Buddhist and other emblematic motifs.