Textile Fragment
1275-1325 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This fragment is part of a group of Chinese silks in the V&A collection, broadly dated between the late thirteenth century and the mid-fifteenth century, and supposedly were found in Egypt. The one shown here, in blue damask, appears to be a section of a garment, presumably the side seam with a gore insertation, maybe part of a sleeve. The pattern of the silk consist of palmette or lotus design with the stylized Chinese character shou, meaning longevity. As the fragment was found in an Egyptian burial, it shows the far-reaching trade of Chinese silk.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Silk damask |
| Brief description | Blue silk damask showing Chinese character within lotus design, 1275-1325, China |
| Physical description | Silk damask in two shades of blue showing rows of palmette or lotus pattern outlined by cloud like ornament and encloses the Chinese character shou, meaning longevity. Each lotus or palmette have wavy stems. The fragment appears to originally been a section of a garment, possibly a side seam (maybe sleeve) with a gore. |
| Dimensions |
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| Style | |
| Marks and inscriptions | shou (This particular Chinese character was to be used extensively on different kinds of objects from the Ming dynasty (1386-1644). There is not much evidence for its widespread use before this time, although the relative paucity of early surviving textiles should caution against making generalisations.)
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| Credit line | Given by Dudley B. Myers, esq. |
| Object history | Given by Mr. Dudley B. Myers, accessioned in 1900. This acquisition information reflects that found in the Asia Department registers, as part of a 2022 provenance research project. The fragment was found in a tomb at the necropolis of Al Azam in Upper Egypt. Historical significance: This piece, found in a tomb, is significant evidence of the export trade of Chinese silk to the Mamluk market. |
| Historical context | A similar fragment is in the Hermitage, Russia and the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York. |
| Production | Dates based on Metropolitan dating |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | This fragment is part of a group of Chinese silks in the V&A collection, broadly dated between the late thirteenth century and the mid-fifteenth century, and supposedly were found in Egypt. The one shown here, in blue damask, appears to be a section of a garment, presumably the side seam with a gore insertation, maybe part of a sleeve. The pattern of the silk consist of palmette or lotus design with the stylized Chinese character shou, meaning longevity. As the fragment was found in an Egyptian burial, it shows the far-reaching trade of Chinese silk. |
| Associated object | |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | 1106-1900 |
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| Record created | November 13, 2008 |
| Record URL |
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