GENERAL EMBROIDERY, PANEL

The embroidery on this Chinese panel is unusual on two counts. First a twisted silk thread is used rather than silk floss indicating it is more recent than those pieces using silk floss. Secondly the main design has three citrus fruits = citrons, representing the hand of Buddha. See notes below.

A bird is perched on the branch of a prunus tree (the symbol of winter). Below the tree is a very elaborate butterfly (symbol of happiness and elegance) flying above another flowering plant.

Embroidered on a black silk fabric edged with narrow red silk, beyond which is a lovely band of damask fabric with Chinese lettering in bright blue edged with black silk.

The backing is olive green silk. The purple used is a more contemporary colour of purple.

On the back is a label ‘Made in China No 13”. Tag with Gregson’s auction number 2896.