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Accession Number 2005.5.419 Title Silk Tapestry Weave Fragmentary Canopy Category textiles Object Type canopy Artist unknown Date Made date unknown Place Made Tibet Culture Tibetan Period 19th century Materials gold wrapped silk thread; silk brocade; polyester; silk tapestry weave; silk twist Materials Glossary Tapestry Weave; Brocade View Materials Glossary Details » View Materials Glossary Details » Measurements overall: 135 cm x 126 cm Description

This canopy was made to decorate a Buddhist temple.The inner section, made in tapestry weave, was made separately from the green brocade border, which would have been attached later. The silk multicoloured tapestry…

This canopy was made to decorate a Buddhist temple.The inner section, made in tapestry weave, was made separately from the green brocade border, which would have been attached later. The silk multicoloured tapestry has motifs of dragons, clouds, waves and rocks. The green silk brocade with metal-wrapped threads is patterned with floral and xi characters, which mean happiness.

The inner section is pieced together from fragments of Chinese tapestry. That shows two dragons face to face, yet one of the dragons has been cut off on the right side. The dragons, which have four claws on each foot, are both standing on one leg. Their heads face upward with open mouths that show off their pointy white teeth. The ends of their tails resemble fishtails sweeping the tops of the waves and mountains below. The images of the dragons’ postures, sharp teeth, fierce claws, and muscular tails reveal a design style of the Ming dynasty (1368-1644).

Read More + Credit Line Gift of Sandy and Cécile Mactaggart