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Valance

1880-1920 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Wedding valance of white cotton, embroidered with blue cotton thread in cross-stitch. The design consists of five roundels of animals and human figures.

A large fish, perhaps a carp, and what look like a pair of cats dominate the roundel. The carp carries the meaning of fertility because it lays many eggs. The cats can be read as 'twin happiness'.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Woven cotton, embroidered with cotton thread in cross-stitch
Brief description
Valance, white cotton with embroidery in blue cotton thread, Yunnan province, China, 1880-1920
Physical description
Wedding valance of white cotton, embroidered with blue cotton thread in cross-stitch. The design consists of five roundels of animals and human figures.

A large fish, perhaps a carp, and what look like a pair of cats dominate the roundel. The carp carries the meaning of fertility because it lays many eggs. The cats can be read as 'twin happiness'.
Dimensions
  • Length: 182.9cm
  • Width: 34.3cm
Styles
Credit line
Given by Miss Mary Lumsden
Object history
Registered File number 1927/4170.
Subjects depicted
Bibliographic reference
Wilson, Verity. Chinese Textiles, 2nd edition, London: V&A Publications, 2005, plate 75, p. 68.
Collection
Accession number
T.125-1927

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Record createdFebruary 12, 2000
Record URL
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