Overview
A large-scale, vibrant silk embroidery panel depicting a multitude of birds surrounding a central phoenix beneath a crimson sun.
1Identify
Preliminary identification
Chinese Silk Embroidery 'Hundred Birds Paying Homage to the Phoenix', Mid-20th Century
Photo reference
1 uploaded photo
Story
Ancient Chinese legend tells of a humble bird who shared its meager food stores with others during a great famine; in return, every bird gifted it a single feather, creating the magnificent Phoenix.
Maker / Origin
While the individual artist is often anonymous, this work belongs to the 'Su Xiu' or Suzhou embroidery tradition, which has flourished for over 2,000 years.
Condition & Value
The silk appears remarkably bright and free from the 'foxing' (brown age spots) often found in older textiles. Value is determined by the sheer scale of the piece and the complexity of the bird figures.
Research
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