Double-sided Hanging

China, for the European market

Not on view

The design of the vibrant flowers on this Chinese hanging marks it as an export for Europe. Unlike typical Chinese flowers, their centers dramatically protrude and contrast sharply with the petals, signaling the influence of Indian export textiles with similar floral forms. However, the container of flowers rests on a distinctly Chinese garden rock, stitched in blue and white. Immaculately finished on both sides, the contrasting yellow selvages visible on the red side mark the yellow as the front. The hanging may have been used as a bed curtain, the red side visible to people inside the bed, while the yellow was exposed to the public eye.

cat. no. 29

Double-sided Hanging, Silk satin embroidered with silk, China, for the European market

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