Altar Table Frontal
ca. 1600-1750 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This table frontal is most likely used on an altar table, perhaps in a private shrine, or in a room in the household used for devotional purposes.
The dragon featured in the centre of the frontal has only four claws, as opposed to the imperial five-clawed dragon. Such altar frontals were also often gifts from the courts to noble families, or tributary gifts to temples under court patronage.
The dragon featured in the centre of the frontal has only four claws, as opposed to the imperial five-clawed dragon. Such altar frontals were also often gifts from the courts to noble families, or tributary gifts to temples under court patronage.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Silk tapestry (<i>kesi</i>) woven in coloured silk and gold threads |
| Brief description | Altar table frontal; silk tapestry (kesi) woven in coloured silks, gold thread and peacock feathers, Chinese, Late Ming-Early Qing dynasty, ca. 1600-1750. |
| Physical description | Altar table frontal; silk tapestry (kesi) woven in coloured silks, gold thread and peacock feathers. The silks are in shades of red, tan, brown, and dark brown, sky blue, pale green, indigo and grey. The design of a large facing four-clawed dragon with parts of face, scales in the body and claws is woven partially with peacock feather-embellished yarns. The sky is filled with bold cloud motifs and auspicious emblems on a gold background. Beneath are the waves with a small rock outcrop in the centre and mountains emerging at each side. The flap has a design of two phoenixes amid clouds confronting a gold sun, on a brick red background. The frontal is lined with a broad, cloud-figured, yellow silk damask. |
| Dimensions |
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| Styles | |
| Credit line | Given by Sir Harry and Lady Garner |
| Object history | Registered File number 1972/3330. |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | This table frontal is most likely used on an altar table, perhaps in a private shrine, or in a room in the household used for devotional purposes. The dragon featured in the centre of the frontal has only four claws, as opposed to the imperial five-clawed dragon. Such altar frontals were also often gifts from the courts to noble families, or tributary gifts to temples under court patronage. |
| Bibliographic reference | Wilson, Verity. Chinese Textiles. London: V&A publications, 2005, plate 5.
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | FE.37-1972 |
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| Record created | January 17, 2003 |
| Record URL |
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