China, c. 164 x 49 cm (incl. frame c. 180 x 55 cm), Ming Dynasty, Wanli Reign, first half of the 17th century, exquisite silk tapestry with gold thread in the dragon’s horns, the present very rare piece was used as a cover for the backrest and seat padding of a Chinese hardwood chair, the pattern consists of four parts: along the backrest is the four-clawed "mang" dragon with the flaming pearl for rain and fertility, the upper section with an upside down image of a flying phoenix and cloud bands was folded backwards, the seat features a lotus flower medallion with four cloud bands with emblems (pumpkin, victory, books and drinking horn) as corner spandrels, whereby the lower end with seahorses, mountain and wave motifs used to hang downwards from the chair pad, two very similar items have been published by Dieter Kuhn and are currently preserved at the Saint Louis Art Museum, the present specimen is in excellent condition with bright colours, mounted on silk behind foam and wooden frame. (MA)

Further reading:
Dieter Kuhn, Chinese Silks, p. 405; Young Yang Chung, silken threads, A History of Embroidery in China, Korea, Japan, and Vietnam, p. 178; Shelagh Vainker, Chinese Silk, A Cultural History, ill. 102 and 112; Dorotheum auction catalogue, Oriental carpets, textiles and tapestries, February 2014, lot 73.