Untitled

Unknown

18th–19th century · Silk velvet with cut and uncut pile · Asian Art

This cover for a seating platform (kang) or a large chair seat has a pattern of floral and dragon scrolls that was carefully designed to appear right side up when viewed from any of its four sides. The graphic quality of the design is achieved through differences in the reflectivity of the two surfaces on the face of the velvet. The background is rendered in cut pile, which tends to absorb light, while the pattern consists of uncut loops, which are more reflective. Fairly common in Chinese velvets, this use of cut and uncut areas to delineate the pattern allowed considerable freedom of design but demanded great skill.

Artist

Unknown

Date

18th–19th century

Medium

Silk velvet with cut and uncut pile

Culture

China

Department

Asian Art

Credit line

Bequest of Florance Waterbury, in memory of her father, John I. Waterbury, 1968