EMBROIDERED THEATRICAL HANGING.
LARGE CHINESE SILK EMBROIDERED WALL HANGING.
Large Chinese theatrical embroideries were primarily used to adorn theaters and ceremonial spaces, adding grandeur and beauty to the surroundings. These embroideries were often intricate and colorful, designed to captivate the audience and enhance the overall aesthetic appeal of the venue.
Many of these embroideries depicted scenes from traditional Chinese stories, legends, or historical events. They served as visual narratives, conveying cultural, moral, or political messages to the audience. Through intricate stitching and vibrant colors, these embroideries brought these stories to life, enriching the theatrical experience and fostering a deeper connection with Chinese cultural heritage.
The creation of large theatrical embroideries required considerable skill, time, and resources. As such, they were often commissioned by wealthy patrons or prestigious institutions as a display of status and prestige. Owning or displaying such embroideries signaled social standing and appreciation for the arts.
These banners might have hung on a stage to provide a background setting for an opera production, or perhaps it decorated another part of a theater.
Silk and metallic thread embroidery on plain-weave cotton.
This Chinese tapestries illustrate a folklore story of 3 lives entangled combat between Quing Long (azure dragon) and Bai Hu (White tiger).
Quing Long and Bai Hu are ancient Chinese mythical creatures, associated with traditional astrology, seasons, fortune or misfortune bearing Yin-Yang five elements.
Legend had it that 2 creatures incarnated into rivalry military generals battling for 3 lives to defend their own camps or kingdoms as their karmic retribution during the Sui and Tang dynasties.
The tapestry depict the famous Chinese opera figures, female general Fan Li Hua from the Tang dynasty and her fight, who got involved in this intricate and perplexed story.
Theatrical characters
HISTORICAL BACKGROUNG
PREVIOUSLY PART OF THE COLLECTION OF Dr RAOUL POUPELAIN.
Dr. Raoul Poupelain, was born in Clerc (Charente-Inférieure, France) on March 14th 1884 and died in 1972 in Bordeaux.
He got his diploma from the Institute of naval medicine in Bordeaux. He was a surgeon detached as Professor at the Imperial school of military medicine in Chengdu and Chongqing, then consular doctor at the French consulate in Shanghai ( 1926-1927).
Former professor at the Chinese Military School of Sichuan, former surgeon at the hospital of Chongqing, Officer of the Legion of Honor, Officer of Public Instruction, Gold Medal of Epidemics.
During his stay in Shanghai, he was also in charge of the medical association “Fresson”.
Durant his life in China, he met famous people such as Victor Segalen and Albert Bodart. He went back to France in 1928 where he resided in Bordeaux, south-west of France.
Most of his vast collection of Chinese antiquities has been sold at an auction organized by Sotheby’s in Paris in June 2014.
This item is on sale. Do not hesitate to contact us.
SIMILAR PIECES FROM VARIOUS COLLECTIONS.
Wall hanging with scene from an opera.
China
19th century. The Met museum. New York, USA
This wall hanging depicts a battle scene from an opera. A tangle of arms, legs, weapons, and costumes fills the visual space, bringing the drama of the battle to life, and the figures, enlarged to heroic scale, tower over the viewer. The textile makers used animal hair for the middle figure’s beard to add texture and three-dimensionality to the work. This banner might have hung on a stage to provide a background setting for an opera production, or perhaps it decorated another part of a theater.
清晚期 刺繡戲劇人物掛毯
Title: Wall hanging with scene from an opera
Period: Qing dynasty (1644–1911)
Date: 19th century
Culture: China
Medium: Silk and metallic thread embroidery on plain-weave wool with animal fibers
Dimensions: Overall: 128 3/4 x 80 in. (327 x 203.2 cm)
A very large and unusual Chinese silk-embroidered tapestry 巨幅京剧人物挂毯
Late Qing dynasty 晚清.
Est: $5,000 – $7,000. Sold: $4,000.
Freeman’s Auction.
April 13, 2022. Philadelphia, PA, US
Dimensions: H: 115 1/2 in., W: 68in.
A very large and unusual Chinese silk-embroidered tapestry 巨幅京剧人物挂毯 Late Qing dynasty 晚清
Of grand scale, the ground nearly covered with silk-work and couched metallic threads, depicting a central beardless warrior flanked by two smaller bearded warriors, the robes and ground elaborately patterned, including figural bands likely related to Chinese opera, blue-dyed cloth backing.
Pair of Chinese Silk Embroidered Theatrical Characters
Est: $6,000 – $8,000 Sold: $6,000.
Oakridge Auction Gallery, Ashburn, VA, US. March 17, 2022
A pair of very large Chinese red-ground embroideries dating from the 19th century. Each depicts three large theatrical characters surrounded by creatures and smaller characters and symbols. Dimensions are: the area of the embroidery measures 146 inches tall X 92 inches wide, 370.8 cm X 233.7 cm.
CHINESE SILK EMBROIDERY.
Peking theater hanging; Qing Dynasty; with colored and metallic threads; with hanging rings; 134 x 72 inches.
Estimate: $2,000 – $3,000 Sold: $ 2,000.-
ABELL AUCTION COMPANY
2613 Yates Avenue, Los Angeles, California, US
September 25, 2022 9:00 AM PDT
Los Angeles, CA, US.
LARGE CHINESE SILK EMBROIDERY
A large Chinese silk and metallic thread embroidered wall tapestry with an opera scene, 19th C.
Estimate: Euros 4,000 – 8,000.-
Starting bid: Euros: 3,200.-
Dimensions: 338 x 219 cm
Rob Michiels auctions, Bruges, Belgium. Feb 23, 2023.
Embroideries with large figures and masks
Lot 676. Asium Auction. 14 Decembre 2018.
INDOCHINE, XIXe siècle.
Paire de grandes tentures tissées en couleur et or à motifs de personnages de théâtres.
Hauteur : 310 cm, Largeur: 165 cm.
A pair of large South China or Vietnam 19th century
embroideries with large figures and masks.
H: 310cm x L: 165cm
Estimation : 4 000 € – 6 000 € Sold: 6 000 €
A LARGE EMBROIDERED BEIJING OPERA HANGING.
China, around 1900, 262 × 130 cm.
With polychrome silk and metal threads on red ground. Some signs of age.
Estimate: CHF 5,000 – 7,000.-
大型京劇刺繡掛片
中國，大約1900年，262 × 130釐米
紅地彩絲金屬線刺繡，局部自然老化痕跡
Koller, International Auctions. Geneva, Switzerland.
December 3rd, 2020.
Large Chinese silk embroidery. Late Qing Dynasty.
Possibly used as a stage backdrop for Peking opera performances.
Elaborately worked in polychrome silk threads and animal hair on a red wool ground to depict a battle amongst three martial figures, one shown seated atop a writhing dragon whilst the second is mounted on a tiger and the third is standing upon turbulent waves. Dimensions: 190x300cm
Lyon & Turnbull Auction. 20th Mar, 2018. Asian Works of Art.
A Pair of massive embroidered theatrical hangings. Late Qing dynasty. Bonhams Auction. San Fransisco. US. June 28th 2016
US$ 10,000 – 15,000.- Each hanging a mirror image elaborately composed in couched gilt and vegetable dye threads to depict three closely huddled martial figures, likely the three Peach Garden heroes Liu Bei, Zhang Fei, and Guan Yu, each attired in extremely elaborate armor formed in a raucous profusion of repeating patterns, floral motifs, animal heads, and smaller depictions of religious and legendary figures; reversed by a blue wool or coarse silk backing. 113 1/2 x 58in (288.3 x 147.3cm)
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