Not currently on display at the V&A

Table Frontal

1670-1730 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

A table frontal covered the front, sides and legs of a table but not the top. It usually had a set of matching chair covers. The back of the table was left free so that a person could sit at it comfortably.

This table frontal would have been used for dinner parties. In 17th-century China guests at a banquet usually sat behind individual small tables rather than round a large table as a group.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Embroidered silk and gold threads
Brief description
Table frontal of embroidered silk and gold threads, China, 1670-1730
Physical description
Table frontal arranged in two tiers with a narrow section of cloth overlapping a deeper length. Counted thread embroidery worked regularly across an even and open grid work of gauze silk is the main technique used on this intricately-patterned frontal. Vertical stitches are used throughout and, except for the dragons on the lower section and the small roundels on the pelmet, these regular stitches cover the ground material completely. An unbroken herringbone pattern is formed by the straight stitches, and this goes right across the piece regardless of the colour changes of the embroidery thread. In addition to this underlying pattern, there is a more obvious one of diamond and octagonal lattices, each ogive containing a tiny lotus, long life character or bat. Long satin stitches and couched gold thread form the sinuous spotted dragons as well as the floral circles above them.
Dimensions
  • Height: 79.3cm
  • Width: 262.9cm
Style
Object history
Purchased from Mr. Roger Fry (17, Old Burlington Street, W.), accessioned in 1911. This acquisition information reflects that found in the Asia Department registers, as part of a 2022 provenance research project.
Historical context
Table frontals were made to match sets of chair covers, although this one does not today form part of such a group. The frontal was suspended around the front and both sides of the table, covering the legs. It did not cover the table top. The back of the table was left free so that a person could sit at it comfortably.
Production
Qing dynasty
Summary
A table frontal covered the front, sides and legs of a table but not the top. It usually had a set of matching chair covers. The back of the table was left free so that a person could sit at it comfortably.

This table frontal would have been used for dinner parties. In 17th-century China guests at a banquet usually sat behind individual small tables rather than round a large table as a group.
Bibliographic reference
Wilson, Verity. Chinese textiles. London: V&A publications, 2005, plate 41.
Collection
Accession number
T.37-1911

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Record createdMarch 13, 2000
Record URL
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