Not currently on display at the V&A

Cushion

1780-1850 (made)
Artist/Maker
Unknown
Place of origin
China (made)

Pair of spherical elbow cushions each made from six oval-shaped panels with two circles at top and bottom. The yellow satin weave ground is embroidered in shaded red, white and blue untwisted silk yarn mostly in satin stitch and small knots. The repeating design is of stylised flowers, some contained in roundels, and bats.


Object details

Categories
Textiles
Household Objects
Embroidery
Object type
Cushion
Parts
This object consists of 2 parts.

  • Cushion
  • Cushion
Materials and techniques
Satin weave silk with polychrome silk embroidery
Silk (Textile)
Silk Thread
Satin Weave
Embroidering
Brief description
Pair of elbow cushions, yellow silk satin with polychrome silk embroidery, China, Qing dynasty, 1780-1850
Physical description
Pair of spherical elbow cushions each made from six oval-shaped panels with two circles at top and bottom. The yellow satin weave ground is embroidered in shaded red, white and blue untwisted silk yarn mostly in satin stitch and small knots. The repeating design is of stylised flowers, some contained in roundels, and bats.
Dimensions
  • Approximately diameter: 23cm
  • Approximately circumference: 79cm
Style
Qing
Gallery label
These solid cushions, for resting the elbows and forearms, were put on large throne-like chairs and on the raised heated platforms used for sitting in North China. The graded blues and reds of the embroidery silks and the yellow colour of the background material indicate that they may have originally been in one of the imperial palaces.
Credit line
Addis Bequest
Object history
Registered File number 1965/3344.
Subjects depicted
Floral Patterns
Bats
Bibliographic references
  • Wilson, Verity, Chinese textiles, London: V&A publications, 2005, page 41, plate 40.
  • Wilson, Verity, 'A Diplomat's Collection: The Chinese Textiles of Sir John Addis' in Arts of Asia vol.33 no.2, 2003, pp.90-101 plate 6
Collection
East Asia Collection
Accession number
FE.138A-1983

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Record createdJune 10, 2008
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O155674/cushion-unknown/
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