Fragment
Object name
Date made
Late 19th century
Place made
Description
Late 19th-century fragment showing a Chinese goldwork dragon and waves.
Content description
Late 19th-century fragment showing a Chinese goldwork dragon and waves, perhaps taken from a larger garment like a dragon robe. The fragment, of blue silk gauze with gold and silk threads, shows a five-clawed couched metal thread dragon with a pearl of wisdom and details like flames wrought in laid work. The dragon's head faces to the viewer's right. The dragon's scales have been achieved by couching down gold passing thread in lines that make up half circles. On the viewer's left side is a portion of striped ‘deep sea waves’ (lishui) and concentric semicircle ‘surface water’ waves (woshui). These are wrought in brick stitches in silk threads.
This imagery is typical of Chinese embroidered garments from the late Qing dynasty (1644-1911), placing this fragment in the late 19th century. It is in damaged condition, suggesting it was cut away from a larger, damaged garment in order to preserve the fine embroidery. This is typical of many global pieces of embroidery in the RSN collection.
This imagery is typical of Chinese embroidered garments from the late Qing dynasty (1644-1911), placing this fragment in the late 19th century. It is in damaged condition, suggesting it was cut away from a larger, damaged garment in order to preserve the fine embroidery. This is typical of many global pieces of embroidery in the RSN collection.
Materials
Stitches
Techniques
Motifs
Catalogue number
RSN.3114
© Royal School of Needlework