Description:
The bats (a symbol of happiness) on this panel are much more ornate than those on 1947.9.J.M(b), but still in a style common during the later Qing dynasty. The thread colors are also very similar to those on 1947.9.J.M(b).
Interesting that there are several different kinds of flowers on this panel since it is a very small piece. The central flower is either a peony, a symbol of masculine beauty, or a chrysanthemum, symbolising feminine beauty. It is sewn with knots instead of satin stitch variants as is the majority of the piece.
The knot stitches are known in the context of antique Chinese embroidery as “Pekinese Stitch,” “Peking Knot,”or “Forbidden Stitch.” There are rumors that this stitch became more desirable the smaller it was made, and many young women went blind in efforts to create the smallest knots possible. Many historians now believe that the stitch is instead named for the Forbidden City. Today in western embroidery vocabulary this stitch is most commonly known as the “French Knot.”
The pink flower at the right side of the piece may be a lotus, representing longevity and purity. If the smaller blue flower next to it is also a lotus, there is some interesting symbolism regarding two lotus blossoms originating from the same stem.
The small flowers on the left side are likely peach (marriage, immortality), plum (beauty, winter, hope, courage, longevity), and/or cherry blossoms (feminine beauty/sexuality, feminine love/affection). Someone more familiar with the symbolism and small variations in popular motifs would be able to identify these designs quite easily.
--Cassie Peltier 7/2018
Link to share this object record:
https://museums.fivecolleges.edu/detail.php?t=objects&type=ext&id_number=MH+1988.7.17 |
