唐 刺繡對鳥紋綢|Textile with confronted birds

Unknown

early 8th century · Silk embroidery on plain-weave silk · Asian Art

Although symmetry is a basic element of Chinese design, the motif of a pair of confronted animals or birds on either side of a plant was not known in China until the opening of the silk routes in the second century B.C. The pattern seen on this embroidery—birds standing on lotus blossoms (a motif derived from Buddhist art)—was popular in the early Tang period.

Artist

Unknown

Date

early 8th century

Medium

Silk embroidery on plain-weave silk

Culture

China

Department

Asian Art

Credit line

Purchase, Joseph Pulitzer Bequest, 1996