Valance Item Number: Edz1273 from the MOA: University of British Columbia
Description
Large black embroidery open rinceau extends across plain white cloth. Selvage on top; three sides hemmed and embroidered with stylized butterflies. Stylized scalloped leaves and stems. Centre motif is five petalled flower containing: centre, leaves and stems bordered by half-circle scallop. Clockwise around centre: petals containing; lotus, cricket, lotus, butterfly, pomegranate. At right of central flower, two large leaves, cricket, minor leaves, stems, flowers. At left of central flower, leaf containing lotus and butterfly. Further right, three petalled flower with centre containing moth? Flanking petals contain other flowers. Additional leaves and branches.
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
Butterfly; joy, conjugal fidelity. Prunus (five petaled flower), winter. Lotus, purity. Cricket; courage, summer. Pomegranate; offspring, posterity.
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
- Edz1273
- Type of Item
- valance
- Material
- indigo dye and cotton fibre
- Manufacturing Technique
- woven, embroidered, stitched and dyed
- Overall
- height 34.0 cm, width 196.5 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
- Accession Number
- 0567/0048