Page 136 - Bonhams Asian Art London November 5, 2020

THE PROPERTY OF A GENTLEMAN 紳士藏品

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A RARE LARGE SILK ‘WEDDING’ EMBROIDERY The present panel is replete with auspicious symbolism conveying
19th century wishes for fertility, happiness and longevity, and was probably intended
The panel finely embroidered with a multitude of colourful double gourds to serve as a gift to a newly-wed couple. The shou and double-ji
issuing from entwined vines bearing curling tendrils, interspersed with characters, denoting respectively long life and ‘double-happiness’,
shou and double-ji characters in wrapped gold thread, all on a rich are combined with a profusion of double gourds, which underscored
coral-red background, mounted with Western silk tassels. the wish for abundance and progeny because of their many seeds.
226cm (89in) high x 197.5cm (77 6/8in) wide. Gourds also symbolised longevity through their links with Daoism. One
of the Eight Daoist Immortals, Li Tiegui, is often depicted carrying a
£3,000 - 6,000 gourd containing the elixir of immortality and Daoist fairies were often
CNY26,000 - 53,000 shown with double gourds issuing five red bats, representing the Five
Blessings. Furthermore, the combination of bottle gourds on vines,
huluman and vines with tendrils, mandai, forms the rebus for ‘May you
十九世紀 珊瑚紅地繡瓜蝶紋掛飾 have numerous descendants’, hulu wandai.

Provenance: a distinguished Italian private collection, and thence by
descent

來源：意大利顯赫私人收藏，並由後人保存迄今
For details of the charges payable in addition to the final Hammer Price of each Lot
134 | BONHAMS please refer to paragraphs 7 & 8 of the Notice to Bidders at the back of the catalogue.