Antique Gilt Thread and Silk Embroidery with Elephants: C19th China

Item Details.
Dating from the 19th century, a fine and decorative silk embroidery from China.

From a the collection of an academic, writer and collector of early textiles, do look at our listings over the coming weeks for more pieces from the same collection.

Skillfully hand embroidered onto a magenta silk satin ground with coloured silks using a wide variety of stitches unusually it depicts two elephants worked in gold wrapped thread, a scholars rock, flowers, a bat and other traditional symbolic motifs.

Along two sides runs a traditional border hand worked on black silk in blues, whites with highlights in gold thread, here and there on the main body of the embroidery are large metal ‘sequins’ designed to catch the light.

This panel would greatly benefit by being stretched and mounted, a service we are pleased to offer from our dedicated textile conservation studio. Please ask us for details.

Measurements.
89cm tall x 101cm wide

Condition:
In excellent, antique condition the panel looks as though it’s been cut from a larger size hanging as it has a raw edge on the left hand side. All of the items we sell are antique and as such have all the idiosyncrasies of an old and loved textile, so small marks, stains and signs of wear are to be expected and are an inherent part of their charm.

Further Notes.
We have lots more original and quality vintage items in our shop, https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/TheTextileTreasury
Where possible, we use recycled packaging when shipping items.