Page 115 - 2021 March 18 to 19th, Important Chinese Works of Art, Christie's New York City

ANOTHER PROPERTY
848
A RARE AND VERY LARGE EMBROIDERED
AND COUNTED STITCH 'BIRTHDAY' PANEL
18TH-19TH CENTURY
The rectangular central panel is finely embroidered
with Xi Wangmu, Queen Mother of the West, riding
a phoenix descending from clouds above Shoulao
seated on a mountain terrace overlooking the Eight
Daoist Immortals at the base of the mountain
centering a peach tree growing from rocks. The
whole is set within a counted stitch border with
figures and attendants engaged in leisurely pursuits
above, a landscape setting below, and antiques on
either side.
137 in. (348 cm.) x 54Ω in. (138.5 cm.)
$18,000-25,000

The present textile is remarkable for its exceptional
quality, massive size, and composition which
combines embroidery with a counted stitch border.
The embroidery on this panel is particularly fine,
with details picked out in fine silk floss threads.
All of the facial features of the figures from their
emotive eyebrows, to their finely delineated
hair, to the details on their patterned robes, are
embroidered with precision and great skill.

The present scene may be referred to as Gathering
at the Turquoise Pond (yao chi) and is nearly
identical to that on an embroidered panel, dated
17th-18th century, sold at Christie’s New York, 22
March 2007, lot 451. See the previous lot for a
discussion of this scene.

清十八/十九世紀 刺繡群仙祝壽圖屏

(detail)