Coverlet of silk velvet with embroidery in floss silk and gilt-paper-wrapped silk thread, with silk cord, probably made in Guangzhou (Canton) in China for the European market, Ming dynasty, about 1600

Coverlet of red velvet, embroidered with coloured floss silks and gold thead (gilt paper twister around pink silk). The pattern is outlined with white silk cord. In the centre is a large phoenix amid flowering stems within an eight-pointed compartment (formed by eight scrollwork and heart-shaped devices linked together, each enclosing a flower) with a leafy outline. The corners are occupied with portions of lobed compartments, each enclosinga vase from which issue symmetrical floral stems, and the remaining space is worked with smaller phoenixes and conventional plants bearing flowers and fruit. The wide border is filled with detached and interlacing floral stems with numerous tendrils. The lining is a cotton dyed brown with a vertical pattern of conventional peacocks and slender floral stems.

Originally this object was loaned to the V&A from 2nd September 1909 - 27th April 1910. In 1911 the Museum purchased it from Messrs. Knight, Frank and Rutley of 20 Hanover Square, London. It had formerly been at Madryn Castle, Wales. It was said that it had been brought to Britain by Elihu Yale, a governor of Madras and one of the founders of Yale University [see letter 1910/3627].

It was originally believed that this coverlet was Indo-Portuguese, but it was decided in 2002 that it had most likely been made in China for a European market. A strikingly similar object is held by the V&A's South and South East Asia collection (see museum no. 1651-1903).

On entry to the Museum the condition of this object was noted as 'worn, velvet joined down the middle'.

This richly embroidered Chinese coverlet is a perfect example of the artistic fusion in export textiles of a Chinese phoenix with Indian motifs. The red velvet is unusual in Chinese production but the expertly manipulated coloured floss silks in satin stitch are typical of early Chinese embroidery for export.

T.36-1911