清晚期 緙絲賀壽圖|Panel with birthday celebration

Unknown

19th century · Silk tapestry (kesi) · Asian Art

This tapestry is part of a set of large ornamental panels. Among the guests honoring the elderly couple are several lively children, probably their grandsons. The man and his wife wear matching robes, appropriate dress for court officials and their wives. As a birthday gift, the three boys at their feet present a hanging scroll bearing the character for longevity (shou) in blue, surrounded by five red bats (fu). Bats were typically used to represent good fortune, as the words are homophones in Chinese.

Artist

Unknown

Date

19th century

Medium

Silk tapestry (kesi)

Culture

China

Department

Asian Art

Credit line

Gift of Susan Dwight Bliss, 1954