tent-cloth(?); tent-hanging(?) BM-As1980-Q.244

Period:Unknown Production date:19thC (late?)
Materials:silk, silver, cotton, leather,
Technique:satin, plain weave, damask, brocaded,
Subjects:flaming jewel
Dimensions:Length: 266 centimetres Width: 270 centimetres

Description:
A very large brocaded cloth, a tent-cloth / tent-hanging (?). Centre made of three equal sized pieces [70 cms wide] of Chinese satin silk cloth; yellow/brown ground with polychrome imagery. Design of centre panel contains a large upright ‘lung’, five-clawed, dragon with flaming pearl near its mouth. Panels on either side each have two dragons and a large phoenix. Sprinkled in the centre field are nearly all attributes of the eight Daoist immortals (fan, sword, castanets, flower basket, bamboo tube and rods) as well as more flaming pearl motifs, clouds and bats. A border (valance?), 32 cms wide, made from floral patterned brocaded cloth – large chrysanthemum blossoms – on a silver-coloured silk ground that includes silver metal thread. Valance covered with two-coloured flounce. Red/brown (tabby) (inner) and light blue (damask) (outer) stitched to form box pleats. Cloth lined with natural cream tabby cotton cloth; stained; four small patches. At each corner and at mid-way point along longest sides is a red leather tapered thong.
IMG


Comments:See: http://tibet.prm.ox.ac.uk/