ID Number

Title

Item Name

Culture

Material

Manufacturing Technique

Date Made

Place Made

Date Collected

Date Owned

Owner

Acquisition Date

Source

Source

Measurements

Item Classes

Condition

Accession Number

Cultural Context

utilitarian;household

Iconographic Meaning

Dragon gate, achievement. Dragon boat, triumphant procession of important official. Cat, frightens evil spirits. Swastika, supreme good luck. Buddha's hand (shown as representation of fruit), wealth and divine protection. Boy riding ch'i-lin and holding cassia sprig, rise to greatness. Ch'i-lin, perfect good and scholarly pursuits.

Description

Plain cloth with blue embroidery. Five major motifs; center is of pagoda with plants inside and flanked by two phoenixs; on either side are mirrow images of a ship with dragon head prow, flags, swastika designs, 5 persons and two flowering trees. Two motifs at each end are mirrow images of vase holding flower flanked by two phoenixs, two persons holding two tassels. Design motifs above main are of two spotted deer and two riders on mythical creature (?). Bottom motifs of potted flowering plants. Each corner has flowers. Border on all three sides of embroidered zig-zag hem. Top edge stitched.

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.