Valance Item Number: Edz1279 from the MOA: University of British Columbia

Description

White embroidery on black cloth. Central motif of fruiting plant in a pot with cicada and butterfly, two birds at bottom. Prunus branch and birds on left, and land form and building with bids and butterfly at other end. To right of center is prunus branch, landform, building and tree and at end are bird, flowers, butterfly and animal. Hemmed at sides and bottom.

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

Vase: maintenance of peace. Clouds, fertility of the land. Crane, longevity. Willow; meekness, spring, womanhood. Butterfly; joy, marital felicity, summer. Pine; longevity, faithfulness of friends. Cock; yang, courage, benevolence.

Item History

What

Name
Valance
Identification Number
Edz1279
Type of Item
valance
Material
cotton fibre and indigo dye
Manufacturing Technique
woven, dyed, stitched and embroidered
Overall
height 34.5 cm, width 190.5 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
0567/0054