Coverlet thumbnail 1
Coverlet thumbnail 2
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Coverlet

1760-1800 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This painted silk resembles the wallpapers made in Canton (Guangzhou) for export, suggesting that it might have come from the same workshops that produced export wallpapers.

Neither wallpapers nor painted silk of this sort played a large part in Chinese interiors, while such painted pieces were often found in the furnishing of European homes.

This painted silk textile might have been used as a bedcover.

Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Painted silk
Brief description
Coverlet of painted silk, made in Guangzhou, China, 1760-1800.
Physical description
Painted silk coverlet with motifs of foliage and trees, birds, flowers and fruits. A square border with these motifs surrounds a square in the centre, where a solitary tree stands, with caged birds on one side of the branches and a basket of fruits on the other. A couple of pheasants stand at the root of the tree.
Dimensions
  • Top edge width: 2540mm
  • Bottom edge width: 2540mm
  • Proper left length: 2760mm
  • Proper right length: 2760mm
Styles
Credit line
Given by Mr G.W. Dobson, Esq.
Object history
Registered File number 1948/5.
Production
Qing dynasty; Probably for export.
Subjects depicted
Summary
This painted silk resembles the wallpapers made in Canton (Guangzhou) for export, suggesting that it might have come from the same workshops that produced export wallpapers.

Neither wallpapers nor painted silk of this sort played a large part in Chinese interiors, while such painted pieces were often found in the furnishing of European homes.

This painted silk textile might have been used as a bedcover.
Bibliographic reference
Wilson, Verity. Chinese textiles. London: V&A publications, 2005, plate 33.
Collection
Accession number
T.3-1948

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Record createdFebruary 28, 2006
Record URL
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