Valance Item Number: Edz1283 from the MOA: University of British Columbia
Description
Long, rectangular, brocade textile of cream fabric with dark blue border strip and detailing. The design consists of flowers, birds, animals, along with Buddhist and Taoist emblems. The centre has a prunus, large bell, deer, vases and books. Right and left of the centre are female figures, each with a bare foot, standing on a cloud, playing a flute; a flywhisk hangs from the flute on right. At far left is a deer with a standard. At far right: two birds in flight. Along the top are smaller motifs: scroll, carp, lotus, books and dragonfly. The border design runs along three sides and has two dragons facing a pearl, walls, birds, flowers, vases. The border sides are hemmed.
History Of Use
Blue and white embroideries are part of a long domestic tradition. Designs vary geographically but are constant within generations of families except for minor individual variations. Often used to decorate the bed which traditionally played a focal part in household ritual particularly at the new year when all household spirits were honored. They are family made, by women, and family owned. These embroideries were of no local commercial value.
Cultural Context
utilitarian;household
Iconographic Meaning
Buddhist symbols: bell, respect and veneration; lotus, faithfulness; vase, harmony; pearl, feminine beauty and purity. Figures, Taoist immortals: Ho Hsien-ku, shown with fly wisk; and Lan Ts'ai-ho. Unicorn bearing standard, military official. Deer, longevity. Dragon, male element, power; with pearl, imperial symbol. Books, scrolls; scholars, part of the hundred antiques.
Item History
- Made in Chengdu, Sichuan, China before 1945
- Collected between 1932 and 1945
- Owned by Kathleen F. Spooner before April 25, 1979
- Received from Kathleen F. Spooner (Seller) and Museum of Anthropology Donations Fund (Funding source) on April 25, 1979
What
- Name
- Valance
- Identification Number
- Edz1283
- Type of Item
- valance
- Material
- cotton fibre and indigo dye
- Manufacturing Technique
- woven, embroidered, dyed and stitched
- Overall
- height 193.7 cm, width 32.9 cm
Who
- Culture
- Chinese
- Previous Owner
- Kathleen F. Spooner
- Received from
- Kathleen F. Spooner (Seller) and Museum of Anthropology Donations Fund (Funding source)
Where
- Holding Institution
- MOA: University of British Columbia
- Made in
- Chengdu, Sichuan, China
When
- Creation Date
- before 1945
- Collection Date
- between 1932 and 1945
- Ownership Date
- before April 25, 1979
- Acquisition Date
- on April 25, 1979
Other
- Item Classes
- textiles
- Condition
- good
- Current Location
- Case 83
- Accession Number
- 0567/0058