Female immortal with a basket
1575-1725
Classification
Costume and Textile
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Gift of Charles Lang Freer
Accession Number
F1911.269
Tags
About this artwork
To 1911
Art Historical Context
This exquisite silk tapestry, titled *Female Immortal with a Basket dates to 1575–1725, spanning the late Ming (1368–1644) and early Qing (164–1911) dyn in China. Depicting a graceful female Daoist immortal—likely one of the revered *xian* figures from Chinese mythology—she carries a basket amid symbolic motifs like the fungus of immortality (*lingzhi*), pine tree, orchid, and radiant sun. Woven with masterful precision, this textile exemplifies *kesi*, a fine silk tapestry technique prized for its painterly detail and vibrant colors, often used for decorative hangings in scholarly or elite ho...
About the Artist
Unknown
The artist designated as "Unknown" in our virtual museum's collection exemplifies a poignant chapter in art history: creators whose identities have faded into obscurity despite the enduring power of their work. With only one known artwork attributed to them in our holdings, this figure represents countless anonymous hands that shaped visual culture across centuries. Museums worldwide, including th...