Untitled

Unknown

early 18th century · Silk florentine-stitch embroidery on silk gauze · Asian Art

This embroidered textile may have served as a table covering. At the center of the piece is a large, round, full-face flower surrounded by four flowers in profile with scrolling stems that sit in a geometric field. That field, in turn, has a wide border that repeats the theme of large flowers in profile and scrolling stems. Four sonorous stones and clusters of small, red nandina berries are also found in the border. As with the needlepoint embroidery practiced today, the embroidery stitches of this textile completely cover the foundation cloth, a yellow silk gauze.

Artist

Unknown

Date

early 18th century

Medium

Silk florentine-stitch embroidery on silk gauze

Culture

China

Department

Asian Art

Credit line

Gift of Lewis Einstein, 1954