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Altar frontal
Chinese
Qing dynasty
1830 to 1849
Object Place: China
Medium/Technique
Silk plain-weave embroidered with silk and couched with gold-wrapped thread
Dimensions
120 x 105 cm (47 1/4 x 41 5/16 in.)
Credit Line
William Sturgis Bigelow Collection
Accession Number11.3978
NOT ON VIEW
CollectionsAsia, Fashion and Textiles
ClassificationsTextiles
DescriptionAltar fronal for a shrine of red plain-weave silk with design of branches of peonies (wealth), peaches (long life), pomegranates and citrons (prosperity) and butterflies (longevity) embroidered with blue, green, and brown silk and couched with gold-wrapped thread; border around three sides of the piece and a band across the top.
ProvenanceBy 1911, purchased by William Sturgis Bigelow (b. 1850 - d. 1926), Boston [see note 1]; 1911, gift of Bigelow to the MFA. (Accession Date: August 3, 1911)
NOTES:
[1] Much of Bigelow's collection of Asian art was formed during his residence in Japan between 1882 and 1889, although he also made acquisitions in Europe and the United States. Bigelow deposited many of these objects at the MFA in 1890 before donating them to the Museum's collection at later dates.
NOTES:
[1] Much of Bigelow's collection of Asian art was formed during his residence in Japan between 1882 and 1889, although he also made acquisitions in Europe and the United States. Bigelow deposited many of these objects at the MFA in 1890 before donating them to the Museum's collection at later dates.