Painted Textile from a Dress

Currently not on view

Painted Textile from a Dress

c. 1788

Artist/maker unknown, Chinese, for export to the Western market

This painted silk fragment decorated with Chinese women, deer, and flowers was said to have been brought from China on the ship Alliance by the Philadelphian Robert Morris in 1788. The ship's cargo consisted of $122,608 worth of teas and silks and $252.74 in sundries for Mrs. Morris. Included as well was a mandarin dress, which Morris presented to the Philadelphia Museum, an institution founded by artist Charles Willson Peale (1741-1827) that held natural history specimens, ethnographic materials, and some portraits by Peale. Painted silks were used both for clothing and for furnishings, including wall coverings. A contrasting selvedge, here in yellow, was characteristic of Chinese trade silks.

Currently not on view

Object Details

Title:

Painted Textile from a Dress

Date:

c. 1788

Artist:

Artist/maker unknown, Chinese, for export to the Western market

Medium:

Silk moiré plain weave with painted watercolor decoration

Dimensions:

40 x 28 1/2 inches (101.6 x 72.4 cm)

Classification:

Textiles

Credit Line:

Gift of Charles Henry Hart, 1897

Accession Number:

1897-666

Geography:

Made in China, Asia

Context:

Dynasty: Qing Dynasty (1644-1911)

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Currently not on view