"Hundred Children's Embroidery"
(Unearthed,1958)
This was the sleeve part (166cm x 71cm) of a double-layer woman
clothing. Hundred children symbolizes good fortune and more descendants.
collected by Dingling Museum, Beijing, China
Grape and squirrel embroidery (Unearthed
unknown)This was a momentary fall nature scene captured, freeze and
embroidered into the white satin.
collected by The Palace Museum, Beijing, China
Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) Embroidery
As the sprout of capitalism emerged in Ming, handicraft and many industries were flourished. Inherited excellent basis from Song, Ming embroidery continued to grow prosperously.
Ming Embroidery had its characteristics:
1) Used widely for all purposes and brought up high embroidery popular culture
with later Qing Dynasty.
2) Quality of Embroidery and materials
for daily use were improved. Skills were more proficient and tend to
gorgeous fashion. Art embroidery had new invention to
innovation, in particular, Ming embroidery professional families and
individuals emerged.
3) expanded the scope of art embroidery, like hair
embroidery, paper embroidery, patch needlepoint, yarn embroidery,
metallic-silk embroidery and so on.
Especially, inherited fine traditions from Song, "Gu embroidery", [created by Shanghai Gu family (1566-1620), "Lu Xiang Park"] had lots of innovation and development to art embroidery. Gu Embroidery was characterized by spliting thin thread, using thin needle, exquisite colors matching, Lively and elelgant styles and combined painting and embroidery in one. This style was very popular till Qing Dynasty and had deep impact on future generations and the four famous embroidery styles later. Gu embroidery were and still are Chinese cultural treasures and major museum collections
