Title
A Chinese Export Standing Screen
Creator
Date
19th century
Description
A Chinese export standing screen (Chinese, 19th century) made of teak wood and silk. The pierced teak body features geometric designs and sits on two feet carved to look like Chinese guardian lions. The silk panel on this screen was made by Li Ailian, a woman embroiderer in the late Qing period. From her honorific title nü shi 女史, meaning "female master," we can tell that she was highly skilled and admired. The classic bird-and-flower design of the embrodery, known as huaniao tu 花鸟图, expressed the yearning for a life of joy and good fortune. In China, standing screens like this one are typically displayed on a table or used to divide a living space. However, the Kings placed this piece in front of a fireplace, transforming it into a Western-style fire screen.
Cultural Origin
Chinese
Medium
carved teak
embroidered silk
Extent
23" x 33"
Collection
Source
Gift of Mrs. Elizabeth M. Smith, 1989.
Identifier
PSNC.6249a-b
For more information about this item, please contact its owning institution.