Cushion Cover
Qing dynasty (1644–1911), 1775/1800
Medium
Silk, warp-float faced 7:1 satin weave; embroidered with silk and gold-leaf-over-lacquered-paper-strip-wrapped silk in knot, satin, and stem stitches; laid work and couching
Dimensions
84.1 × 90.3 × 12.7 cm (33 1/8 × 35 1/2 × 5 in.)
Classification
textile
Department
Textiles
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
71800
Art Historical Context
This exquisite **Cush Cover** from the Qing dynasty (1644–1911), created by Manchu artisans around 1775–1800, exemplifies the opulent textile arts of imperial China. Measuring an impressive 84.1 × 90.3 × 12.7 cm, it was likely designed for elite furnishings, such as seating in palaces or high-status homes, where such lavish pieces signaled wealth and refinement during the Qianlong or Jiaqing emperor eras. Crafted from silk in a warp-float faced 7:1 satin weave—a luxurious ground that shimmers with light—the cover is masterfully embroidered with silk threads and gold-leaf-over-lacquered-paper-...
About the Artist
Manchu
"Manchu" is a cultural and ethnic designation used in museum collection records to identify objects, textiles, costumes, and decorative arts associated with the Manchu people, a Tungusic group originating from the regions northeast of the Great Wall of China. The Manchus rose to political dominance in 1644 when they conquered the declining Ming dynasty and established the Qing dynasty, which ruled...