Late Qing Dynasty Silk & Gold Couchwork Panel: The Sanxing Deities, C. 1890

Details

Description

An exceptional 19th-century Chinese silk embroidery panel dating from the Late Qing Dynasty (c. 1860–1911). This piece is a quintessential … Read more An exceptional 19th-century Chinese silk embroidery panel dating from the Late Qing Dynasty (c. 1860–1911). This piece is a quintessential example of celebratory textile art, created during the final decades of the Imperial era. It depicts the 'Sanxing' (Three Star Gods), the most revered deities of the Chinese domestic pantheon, symbolizing the three pillars of a perfect life.

The Trio of Blessings:

• Shou (Longevity): Depicted with his iconic high cranium, holding the Peach of Immortality.

• Lu (Status/Prosperity): Carrying a young child, representing the blessing of a successful lineage and high professional rank.

• Fu (Good Fortune): Traditionally shown in scholar’s robes, overseeing the harmony of the home.

The panel is masterfully worked on a cinnabar-red silk ground, featuring high-relief gold-thread couchwork that defines the figures and the stylized 'Xiangyun' (auspicious clouds) beneath their feet. The borders are decorated with scrolling peonies—the 'King of Flowers'—representing wealth and honor, interspersed with endless knots signifying eternal harmony. The use of vibrant polychrome silk and traditional mineral dyes ensures the colors remain remarkably vivid after over a century. See less