清 刺繡百子圖|Hanging with children at play

Unknown

19th century · Silk and metal thread embroidered on silk satin ground · Asian Art

This large polychrome silk embroidery features a popular motif known as “the hundred boys.” To express the desire for a prosperous family, hundreds of male children at play are depicted, usually in a beautiful garden. Here, 250 boys are engaging in various activities, such as wrestling, hide and seek, butterfly catching, deer riding, and playing with a ball. Each child is embroidered in a different posture with simple but fluid outlines, which required not only intensive skill but also artistic sensibility. Hangings like this usually served as wall decorations in wedding celebrations.

Artist

Unknown

Date

19th century

Medium

Silk and metal thread embroidered on silk satin ground

Culture

China

Department

Asian Art

Credit line

Bequest of William Christian Paul, 1929