Wall hanging with scene from an opera

China

Not on view

This wall hanging depicts a battle scene from an opera. A tangle of arms, legs, weapons, and costumes fills the visual space, bringing the drama of the battle to life, and the figures, enlarged to heroic scale, tower over the viewer. The textile makers used animal hair for the middle figure’s beard to add texture and three-dimensionality to the work. This banner might have hung on a stage to provide a background setting for an opera production, or perhaps it decorated another part of a theater.

Wall hanging with scene from an opera, Silk and metallic thread embroidery on plain-weave wool with animal fibers, China

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Wall hanging with scene from an opera, Silk and metallic thread embroidery on plain-weave wool with animal fibers, China
Wall hanging with scene from an opera, Silk and metallic thread embroidery on plain-weave wool with animal fibers, China
Wall hanging with scene from an opera, Silk and metallic thread embroidery on plain-weave wool with animal fibers, China
Wall hanging with scene from an opera, Silk and metallic thread embroidery on plain-weave wool with animal fibers, China
Wall hanging with scene from an opera, Silk and metallic thread embroidery on plain-weave wool with animal fibers, China
Wall hanging with scene from an opera, Silk and metallic thread embroidery on plain-weave wool with animal fibers, China
Wall hanging with scene from an opera, Silk and metallic thread embroidery on plain-weave wool with animal fibers, China
Wall hanging with scene from an opera, Silk and metallic thread embroidery on plain-weave wool with animal fibers, China
Wall hanging with scene from an opera, Silk and metallic thread embroidery on plain-weave wool with animal fibers, China
Wall hanging with scene from an opera, Silk and metallic thread embroidery on plain-weave wool with animal fibers, China
Wall hanging with scene from an opera, Silk and metallic thread embroidery on plain-weave wool with animal fibers, China
Wall hanging with scene from an opera, Silk and metallic thread embroidery on plain-weave wool with animal fibers, China
Wall hanging with scene from an opera, Silk and metallic thread embroidery on plain-weave wool with animal fibers, China
Wall hanging with scene from an opera, Silk and metallic thread embroidery on plain-weave wool with animal fibers, China
Wall hanging with scene from an opera, Silk and metallic thread embroidery on plain-weave wool with animal fibers, China
Wall hanging with scene from an opera, Silk and metallic thread embroidery on plain-weave wool with animal fibers, China
Wall hanging with scene from an opera, Silk and metallic thread embroidery on plain-weave wool with animal fibers, China
Wall hanging with scene from an opera, Silk and metallic thread embroidery on plain-weave wool with animal fibers, China
Wall hanging with scene from an opera, Silk and metallic thread embroidery on plain-weave wool with animal fibers, China
Wall hanging with scene from an opera, Silk and metallic thread embroidery on plain-weave wool with animal fibers, China
Wall hanging with scene from an opera, Silk and metallic thread embroidery on plain-weave wool with animal fibers, China

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