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Pillow end decorated with deer, bird, monkey, and wasps, one of a pair

approx. 1800-1900

Asian Art Museum

Asian Art Museum
San Francisco, United States

Paired with the pillow end depicting a lion playing with a brocade ball, this one depicts a deer carrying a fungus of immortality with a bird flying above them, and a monkey knocking a wasps nest with a stick, angry wasps buzzing around them. The four elements make up a pictorial pun for "May you receive high rank and an official salary", as the Chinese word for each pictorial element sounds like a word or phrase in the blessing: "Bird" and "noble rank" are homophonous (jue), as are "deer" and "official salary" (lu), "wasp" and "confer" (feng), and "monkey" and "marquis" (hou).

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  • Title: Pillow end decorated with deer, bird, monkey, and wasps, one of a pair
  • Date Created: approx. 1800-1900
  • Location Created: China
  • Physical Dimensions: H. 6 3/4 in x W. 6 3/4 in, H. 17.1 cm x W. 17.1 cm
  • Rights: Public Domain
  • Medium: Embroidered silk gauze
  • Credit Line: Asian Art Museum, Gift of Mrs. Ursula W. Bingham, 1988.32.18.a
Asian Art Museum

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