Hanging scroll, embroidered silk, China, 1860-1880

Scroll of embroidered silk showing a willow tree, kingfisher and swallows
is a typical example of the kind of fine embroidery work that enjoyed a flowering at this time. It depicts a willow tree with a peony flower growing at its base. Swallows, a kingfisher poised as if ready to dive and a pair of herons complete the composition. Like Chinese scroll paintings it probably would not have hung permanently on the wall, but was brought out at certain seasons and admired for a while. This type of picture is very much a part of the interior design scheme of a well off household. The challenges of creativity were rather differnrntly inflected in China before the twentieth century. The fact that it is painted with silk threads is evidence that it is not a slavish copy but rather a wholly acceptable way of honouring the original artist.

Given by Thomas Watters Esq.

Given by Mr. Thomas Watters, accessioned in 1888. This acquisition information reflects that found in the Asia Department registers, as part of a 2022 provenance research project.

This hanging scroll is a typical example of the kind of fine embroidery work that enjoyed a flowering at the end of the 19th century in China. The 'flower and bird' theme was inspired by a painting, complete with a poetic stanza on the top left corner. Like most Chinese scroll paintings it probably would not have hung permanently on the wall, but was brought out at certain seasons and admired for a while. This type of picture was very much part of the interior design of a well-off household. The fact that it was done with silk threads is evidence that it was not a slavish copy but rather a wholly acceptable way of honouring the original artist.

1864-1888