Red-ground Samite Featuring Confronted Birds in Bead-petalled Floral Medallions Front

This is a piece of four-color weft-faced silk twill woven with warp threads inserted with Z-twist, which give the fabric a firm and thick texture. The quaint figures on it still look eye-catching thanks to the bright palette of sage, blue and beige for motifs on a red ground, though many parts of the patterns are missing on this severely-frayed piece. Coupled with the rich color palette, curvy lines and vivid forms of these decorative figures, which contribute to a refreshing and lively effect, unveil the glorious artistic achievements of the Tang dynasty (618-907 AD).