Exhibition
IN THIS ONLINE EXHIBITION you will find textiles and paintings decorated with peony blossoms—from the Qing Imperial Court to the commercial textile industry. We invite you to appreciate the textile designs and innovative Chinese craftsmanship while enjoying a variety of silk textiles from the Mactaggart Art Collection.
The peony, which represents wealth, rank, and honour, could be found in imperial gardens, which were exclusively used by the emperor and his family as a private retreat.
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In Chinese culture, a value system promotes harmony and balance within all public and private spaces.
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Surface decorations on Chinese textiles often have a painterly quality that uses shadow and colour gradient to portray depth.
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The form and symbolism of the peony was popular amongst the urban population, and artisans working outside of imperial workshops who capitalized on this by adding the motif to everyday objects.
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