Square with Phoenixes
Unknown Artist
late 16th–early 17th century
Medium
Silk and metallic-thread embroidery on plain-weave silk
Dimensions
Overall: 7 1/16 x 6 1/2 in. (18 x 16.5 cm)
Classification
(not assigned)
Culture & Period
China · Ming dynasty (1368–1644)
Department
Asian Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Anonymous Gift, 1946
Accession Number
46.133.1
Tags
Art Historical Context
This exquisite *Square with Phoenixes*, crafted in late 16th– to early 17th-century during the Ming dynasty (8–1644), the era's mastery of silk embroidery. Measuring just 7 1/16 x 6 1/2 inches (18 x 16.5 cm), this square panel features dynamic phoenixes—auspicious birds symbolizing virtue, grace, and imperial harmony—rendered in vibrant silk and shimmering metallic threads on a plain-weave silk ground. Its compact size suggests it may have adorned a garment accessory, pouch, or decorative mount, reflecting the refined luxury of Ming elite textiles. Ming dynasty artisans elevated embroidery to...