A PAIR OF EMBROIDERED RED SATIN 'LONGEVITY' PANELS

MID-19TH CENTURY

Details

A PAIR OF EMBROIDERED RED SATIN 'LONGEVITY' PANELS
MID-19TH CENTURY
The coral-red silk satin ground couched in gold-wrapped thread with shou characters arranged in pairs and surrounded by scattered flower sprigs finely worked in delicately colored satin stitch and Peking knot, within a border of shaded blue flower scroll within gold borders
83 x 21¼ in. (211 x 54 cm.) (2)

Provenance

Private American collecion.

Lot Essay

In late imperial China red clothing and other celebratory textiles were used for celebrating major events within the family - birth of children, weddings, significant birthdays and anniversaries. The color symbolized the element fire and expressed wishes for happiness. This splendid pair of panels, decorated with shou (longevity) characters rendered in various seal scripts, would likely have hung in a prominent position on the occasion of one's birthday.

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