Panel from Banner
Unknown Artist
Medium
Silk; on silk; mounted on silk; inner band of silk
Dimensions
Overall: 17 1/4 x 12 1/2 in. (43.8 x 31.8 cm) Overall with mounting: 21 1/2 × 17 in. (54.6 × 43.2 cm)
Classification
Textiles-Embroidered
Culture & Period
China · Ming dynasty (1368–1644)
Department
Asian Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Bequest of Gilbert H. Montague, in memory of Amy Angell Collier Montague, 1961
Accession Number
61.93.3
Art Historical Context
This exquisite embroidered silk panel, originating from a larger banner during China's Ming dynasty (1368–1644), offers a glimpse into the opulent textile arts of imperial China. The Ming era marked a pinnacle of refinement in craftsmanship, where silk production and embroidery flourished under patronage from the court and elite families. Banners like this were often used in ceremonial processions, funerals, or Buddhist rituals, symbolizing status, spirituality, and cultural devotion. Crafted entirely from silk—embroidered on silk, mounted on silk, and edged with an inner silk band—the panel ...