Posts Tagged ‘Lu Style Embroidered Scroll Picture of Hibiscus and Two Ducks’
Ten Top Collections in Beijing Palace Museum(9)--- Lu Style Embroidered Scroll Picture of Hibiscus and Two Ducks(鲁绣芙蓉鸳鸯图)
Ming Dynasty (1368-1644)
Length: 140cm. Width: 57cm.
This embroidered scroll picture is an outstanding example of Lu (now in Shandong Province) style embroidery. It is embroidered on dark-coloured satin with two-strained, multi-coloured silk threads. The needle has replaced the painting brush in bringing out the delicate texture of the rockery and flower petals by imitating the blurred edges in traditional Chinese painting. The hibiscus is bright in colour, and the two ducks and rockery form an interesting contrast. Unlike the Su (now in Suzhou city) style embroidery of the south that uses thin thread of light colour, this picture displays the simple and vigorous style of the northern folk embroidery.
Following the tradition of Lu style embroidery, the embroiderers of this picture used a great variety of stitches, such as overlapping, knot-tying, joint, diagonal, braid and flat stitches. Threads of different thickness, ranging from 0.02cm to 0.05cm, were used for the main and secondary parts of the picture. The stitches are closely and smoothly executed to produce good texture, spacing and flowing lines. As threads of more than 20 beautiful colours are used, this picture fully displays the vigour, bold style and beauty of Lu style embroidery. Compared with the original picture, this embroidered picture emphasizes the three-dimensional effect of a relief sculpture.
For more collections, go to Beijing Palace Museum