Hanging

Art Historical Context

This exquisite silk hanging from China's Qing dynasty (16441911), created by an unknown artist in the19th century, exemplifies era's masterful textile artistry. Measuring 76 x 21¼ inches, it was woven using a compound weave on a satin ground—a sophisticated technique that creates a lustrous, reflective surface by floating silk threads over multiple warps. Acquired through the Rogers Fund in 190 and now in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Asian Art collection, this textile served as a luxurious wall hanging, likely adorning elite homes or imperial spaces. The phoenix motif, a recurring tag for...