Hanging
1870-1895 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This large and striking textile was produced in Japan to appeal to the western market. It depicts an eagle sweeping down through a pine forest and carrying away a shishi (mythical lion) cub while two monkeys try to pull a terrified companion across a stream. The whole scene is meticulously executed in embroidery, the stitches covering the entire surface of the cloth.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Plain weave cotton, with embroidery in silk and metal-wrapped threads |
| Brief description | Hanging, plain weave cotton, embroidered with an eagle carrying off a shishi (mythical lion) cub with scared moneys below, Japan, 1870-1895. Tex, Japan, embroidery |
| Physical description | Large hanging of plain weave cotton entirely covered with an embroidered scene, in silk and metal-wrapped threads, showing an eagle carrying away the cub of a shishi (mythical lion), while below two monkeys try to pull another to safety. |
| Dimensions |
|
| Object history | Purchased from Mr. C. R. Burkill (Waltham St. Lawrence, Twyford, Berkshire), accessioned in 1898. This acquisition information reflects that found in the Asia Department registers, as part of a 2022 provenance research project. |
| Summary | This large and striking textile was produced in Japan to appeal to the western market. It depicts an eagle sweeping down through a pine forest and carrying away a shishi (mythical lion) cub while two monkeys try to pull a terrified companion across a stream. The whole scene is meticulously executed in embroidery, the stitches covering the entire surface of the cloth. |
| Bibliographic reference | Miller, Lesley Ellis, and Ana Cabrera Lafuente, with Claire Allen-Johnstone, eds. Silk: Fibre, Fabric and Fashion. London: Thames & Hudson Ltd in association with the Victoria and Albert Museum, 2021. ISBN 978-0-500-48065-6.
This object features in the publication Silk: Fibre, Fabric and Fashion (2021) |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | 167-1898 |
About this object record
Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
| Record created | February 24, 2003 |
| Record URL |
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest
