Embroidered Panels with Design of the Chinese Characters for “Longevity” and “Good Fortune” 18th-19th century
anonymous
minneapolisinstituteofart
panel, textile
natural stone pattern
wood texture
toned paper
panel
water colours
pottery
textile
tile art
coffee painting
wooden texture
watercolour bleed
watercolor
This pair of embroidered panels, dating back to the 18th-19th century, showcases the intricate art of Chinese textile design. The panels, housed at the Minneapolis Institute of Art, feature a multitude of Chinese characters, meticulously crafted with colorful threads against a muted green background. The characters themselves symbolize "longevity" and "good fortune," reflecting the traditional Chinese values associated with these concepts. The anonymous artist's skill in manipulating different colors and textures creates a visually captivating tapestry, showcasing the depth of Chinese craftsmanship. This artwork provides insight into the cultural and aesthetic values of the 18th-19th century in China.
Comments
Each of these six panels features twenty-four Chinese characters, alternating between the characters for “longevity” (壽) and “good fortune” (福). The characters, embroidered in gold thread on a light-blue ground, represent a wide variety of scripts. Some are traditional, while others are less orthodox, including characters whose brushstrokes are formed by stylized bamboo, fish, or birds. These panels—probably from a set of eight or ten panels mounted individually or as a folding screen—would have been used as an auspicious backdrop for a sixtieth birthday celebration. The sixtieth year (called hwangap in Korean), marking one’s survival through a full sexagenary cycle (the twelve-pronged, sixty-year zodiac calendar), receives special commemoration in many cultures within the Chinese cultural sphere, even today.
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