清 緙絲壽字屏條|Panel with Longevity (Shou) Characters
Unknown Artist
19th century
Medium
Silk and metallic thread tapestry (kesi)
Dimensions
78 x 20 3/4 in. (198.12 x 52.70 cm)
Classification
Textiles-Tapestries
Culture & Period
China · Qing dynasty (1644–1911)
Department
Asian Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Alice Boney, 1945
Accession Number
45.117.1
Art Historical Context
This exquisite Qing dynasty kesi tapestry, titled *Panel with Longevity (Shou) Characters*, hails from 19th-century China and stands an impressive 78 inches tall, its slender 20¾-inch width suggesting it formed part of a decorative screen Crafted by an unknown artist, the panel features the auspicious "Shou" (壽) characters—symbols of longevity and eternal life—rendered in silk and shimmering metallic threads. Such motifs were ubiquitous in Chinese art, embodying heartfelt wishes for health, prosperity, and many happy returns, often displayed during celebrations or as imperial gifts. The mediu...