SOLD

Kesi Pheonix Panels
Mid-19th c

These would make a great present.

These were originally from a Han Chinese woman's skirt or aprons. I did not cut it up!

Kesi technique or cut silk is the most desirable form of Chinese textile. It is a tapestry weave technique ie. woven on a loom and not embroidered, in which open slits appear between colour changes in the weft. These are visable if you look closely in these pieces. It took much longer to weave than to embroider and so was highly prized by the Chinese.

Cataloguing

from a Han woman's skirt, the pheonix, representing the Empress, flying above a lishui wave border, all in shades of blue, pink, vermillion, yellow grey and black on a sea green/blue ground, with a little hand painting, 10 x 3 1/4 in; 26 x 8 cm; now hand stitched to calico and stretched over acid free board, with card mount hand painted with watercolour lines, 17 x 10 in; 44 x26 cm.

Condition

Very good. The left hand piece has a couple of fold lines which we have been unable to remove with steaming. Once these pieces were framed and glazed and up on a wall this would not notice.