Table-Screen with Cantonese Embroidery of Flowers, Birds, and Antiquities

This table screen has a pedestal and a frame of red sandalwood with mother-of-pearl inlays. The embroidered panel features potted flowers, birds, and various curios (called bogu, or antiquities) on plain white satin. The embroidered designs are divided into two parts. The central scene shows flowers, birds, grasses, and insects, while the outer rim displays various antiquities and decorative objects. The elaborate patterns are sumptuous. Brown, maroon, light tan, and cream are used as the main tones, and red, green, black, white, and gold enrich the overall color scheme with elegance and a touch of brightness. The embroidery includes a range of complicated techniques. Although some of the thread used was extremely thin, the finish is tidy.
Cantonese embroidery is famous for its complicated designs, bright colors, and exquisite craftsmanship. During the Qing dynasty, Cantonese embroideries were manufactured in workshops and, primarily, by male workers. This was quite different from other local embroideries. This table screen was used as a decorative tabletop object in the imperial palace during the late-Qing dynasty. After the embroidery was completed, it was fixed to a simple wooden backing. Fixing the elaborate fabric to this board served to support the well-organized designs in a static state. Finally, the whole work was mounted in the decorative red sandalwood frame. A bill printed with the title Guangdong Caiyuan Workshop (Guangdong caiyuan zihao) was attached to the back of the table screen between the backing and frame. On the bill, He Zhuzhai, the owner of workshop, introduces the address of the workshop, the assortment of his workshop's embroidery, textures available, marketability of his embroidery, and his conception of commercial management. This advertisement is valuable historical material for research into the Cantonese embroidery of the late-Qing period.