Streamers
Unknown Artist
19th century
Medium
Silk, metallic thread
Dimensions
36 1/2 x 3 1/4 in. (92.71 x 8.26 cm)
Classification
Textiles-Embroidered
Culture & Period
China · Qing dynasty (1644–1911)
Department
Asian Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Florance Waterbury, 1967
Accession Number
67.179.3
Tags
Art Historical Context
Behold the elegant *Streamers*, a pair of exquisite embroidered textiles from 19th-century Qing dynasty China (1644–1911). Crafted from luxurious silk and shimmering metallic threads, these narrow banners measure 36½ x 3¼ inches, likely designed as ceremonial hangings or processional adornments. Their delicate form evokes the grandeur of imperial rituals or festive celebrations, where such pieces fluttered in the breeze, catching the light to mesmerizing effect. Embroidered with intricate motifs—most notably dragons, the supreme symbol of imperial power, good fortune, and divine authority—the...