A group of four early textile fragments


Ming dynastyThe first, circa 1600, a red silk brocade fragment finely woven in green, white, and subdued colors on a red ground with the wudu (Five Poisonous Creatures) - viper, centipede, toad, scorpion and lizard - amid carnations and leafy branches; the second a 17th century green silk ground kesi-woven fragment preserving a five-clawed dragon in gilt-wrapped threads above a lishui border; the third a Ming dynasty rectangular red silk fragment embroidered with a visvajra in gilt-wrapped threads amid vine scrolls worked in blue and white loop stitches; the fourth a possible 16th/17th century yellow brocade fragment finely embroidered with a visvajra centered on a yin-yang medallion amid leaf and vine scrolls in polychrome loop stitches (all faded with separations and some losses); together with a middle Qing red satin hanging panel with tassel, embroidered in delicate loop stitch with four of the Eight Buddhist Emblems using polychrome silk floss and gilt-wrapped threads; each fragment separately framed and glazed. [5]17 1/2 x 7 3/4in (44.5 x 19.5cm) sight dimensions of first fragment7 x 8 1/4in (17.8 x 21cm) sight dimensions of red ground visvajra
|Provenance of the first four textilesMichael Franses, London, purchased May 1996 (three) and November 1998 (one)