清康熙 緙絲五鳳圖對屏|Panel with five phoenixes in a garden

Unknown

18th century · Silk tapestry (kesi) · Asian Art

Large pictorial silk tapestries such as these were woven mostly in the imperial workshops in Suzhou, a textile center in southeast China. The background of bright yellow, a color exclusive to the emperor, further confirms the imperial origins. Though usually translated as “phoenix” in English, the fenghuang bird is a distinct mythical species with a different set of associations. The fenghuang, most noble of all feathered species, is said to appear only in times of peace and prosperity, so the creature is depicted frequently in works commissioned by imperial courts.

Artist

Unknown

Date

18th century

Medium

Silk tapestry (kesi)

Culture

China

Department

Asian Art

Credit line

Gift of Mrs. John F. Seaman, 1925