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Hidden Oriental Jewel: Chinese Silk Embroidery
By: Raymond Yuen
Introduction
Do you know what "silk embroidery is? Do you know what it looks like? Many
people I come across in the U.S. are either unaware or unfamiliar with what silk
embroidery is. Moreover, for the few who are familiar with this specialized
Chinese skill, I have discovered that they do not have a true knowledge and
appreciation for this fine Chinese art form. Thus, the implication can be made
that “silk embroidery” is truly a "Hidden Oriental Jewel” that has been under
appreciated in the West due mainly to the fact that the common person is
ignorant of the time, effort, and skill required to create high-quality "silk
embroidery" works. Hence, the purpose of this article will be to inform and
educate you (whether the art lover or the common person) on: What is silk
embroidery?, How it is made?, How to appreciate it?, etc. My hope is that you
will acquire an appreciation for the uniqueness and value of this oft-overlooked
Chinese art. Whether an art lover or not, I think you will come to appreciate
the value of this “Hidden Oriental Jewel.“
What is Silk Embroidery?
Silk embroidery is a type of Oriental wall art that results from the traditional
Chinese skill of pulling fine strands of colored silk through a canvas to create
a beautiful work of art. The most common way to enjoy silk embroidery is as a
framed, wall-hanging object. Hence, it is ideal as a gift, collectible, home
decoration, souvenir, or office piece. The art of skill embroidery originated in
China and has been practiced there for over 3,800 years. It reached a high level
early in the Qing and Han dynasties, with silk and silk embroidery being the
main products transported along the ancient Chinese Silk Road.
China was one of the first countries to transform embroidery into an advanced
art form. The use of special embroidery techniques and styles sets apart Chinese
embroidery from embroidery created in other parts of the world. In the past,
embroidery skills were considered to be an essential skill every woman was to
possess. A woman who could create a high-quality embroidery piece was admired
and well-respected. Women from rich families took on embroidery as a hobby while
those from poor families did it for a living. Today, high-quality embroidery
works are treated on the same level as the best Chinese paintings and
Tang Dynasty and Song
Dynasty poems
How To Appreciate Silk Embroidery?
Whether you’re an “art lover” or the “common person,” you'll come to appreciate
the value of silk embroidery once you learn of the skill and effort that goes
into creating each piece. To create a high quality piece, an artist must split a
single silk thread into several thinner threads. It can be split into 12 to 48
thinner strands - depending on how fine the artist wants to be with his/her
piece. The embroiderer then stitches layer after layer using threads of a
variety of colors to reach the final wonderful effect. Embroiderers are known to
take frequent breaks - every 10 to 15 minutes - to rest their eyes due to the
strenuous nature of their work.
Due to the labor-intensiveness of the work, some larger and more intricate
pieces of embroidery may require a year to a year and a half to complete by an
artist or group of artists. Those works sell for thousands of dollars, - which
is reasonable - considering the skill and time involved in creating the work. Of
course, smaller pieces are available that are of high quality yet sell for much
less.
Four Types of Silk Embroidery The adoption of different needling methods through
the years has resulted in four distinctive embroidery styles in China:
1) "Su" embroidery of Jiangsu Province - known for its delicacy and elegance,
this style is usually very simple, highlighting a main theme. Its stitching is
smooth, dense, thin, neat, even, delicate and harmonious. The thin thread is
divided into up to 48 strands that are barely visible to the naked eye. Su
embroidery is where double-sided embroidery originated. Su embroidery products
were sent to participate in the Panama World Fair in 1915.
2) "Xiang" embroidery of Hunan Province - became the main craft in places around
Changsha, capital city of Hunan Province, in the Qing Dynasty. Xiang embroidery
was developed from Hunan folk embroidery methods, but it also drew on the skills
of Su embroidery and Yue embroidery. This method uses loose colorful threads to
embroider the pattern with the stitches being not as neat as those of other
embroidery styles. The various colored threads are mixed together, showing a
gradual change in color with a rich and harmonious tone. Designs on Xiang
embroidery mostly derive from traditional Chinese paintings of landscapes, human
figures, flowers, birds and animals. The most common designs on Xiang embroidery
are lions and tigers. The tigers appear strong and bold, revealing their power
and menace as a king of animals. Xiang embroidery won the best award in the
Torino World Fair in Italy in 1912 and the First Award in the Panama World Fair
in 1933.
3) "Yue" embroidery of Guangdong Province - is rich and complicated in content
with bright colors and strong decorative effects. The embroidery is smooth and
even. One type, gold and silver cushion embroidery, creates a magnificent
three-dimensional effect. Yue embroidery has a wide range of designs, the most
common ones being birds worshipping the sun, dragons and phoenixes.
4) "Shu" embroidery of Sichuan Province - are mostly found in Chengdu, the
capital city of Sichuan Province. They are made with soft satins and colored
threads as the raw materials are embroidered by hand. The varied stitching
methods form their unique local style. Designs on Shu embroidery include
flowers, birds, landscapes, fish, worms and human figures. The products
themselves include quilt covers, pillow covers, back cushions, table cloths,
scarves and handkerchiefs.
Western-Style Silk Embroidery
Western-style silk embroidery occurs as the result of an artist using fine silk
strands and needles to accurately reproduce famous Western-style oil paintings
(see figure 2) - like Van Gogh and Da Vinci. It is truly amazing how an
embroidery artist can literally take silk strands and create a silk reproduction
of a well-known artist’s oil painting.
Essentially, the artist paints with fine silk strands instead of painting with
oil. Think about it . . . does this not perhaps require more skill than painting
with oil itself? Despite the difference in materials and technique, one thing
about a silk embroidery work is that - from a distance - it can very much
resemble a work of oil painting .
From up close, however, one can notice the colorful patterns and detailed
stitching in a silk embroidery work. In fact, the colors will appear more bright
and lively than the usually duller colors of an oil painting.
Double-Sided Silk Embroidery
Double-sided silk embroidery is the result of an advanced embroidery technique
in which the artist stitches on both sides of a single transparent silk canvas.
The embroidered design displays on both the front and back sides of the fabric
and does not show the joints in the stitching. Such a work is normally mounted
as a screen on a wooden frame. A special feature about double-sided silk
embroidery is that you can enjoy the artist’s handiwork from either side of the
picture.
How To Mount & Store Silk Embroidery
Mounting a piece of silk embroidery can be an art in and of itself.
Hard Mounting - is most suitable for small to medium-sized embroidery pieces. It
involves mounting the piece on a wooden board or frame with a front protective
glass. The mounting technique is relatively easy to master.
Soft Mounting - is most suitable for larger pieces. It involves mounting the
embroidery piece on a large sheet of paper with a silk border. The mounting
technique is very difficult to master. As a result, due to the nature of the
mounting technique, a piece with soft mounting is more valuable.
Storing - be sure to wrap embroidery pieces in a container that protects it from
moths. Also, embroidery should not be exposed to strong light - especially
sunshine - for an extended period of time. Moreover, the environment should be
neither too wet nor too dry.
Recommended Reading
1) Art of Oriental Embroidery: History, Aesthetics, &... by Young Yang Chung.
2) Painting with a Needle: Learning the Art of Silk Embroidery… by Young Yang
Chung
This article was written by Raymond Yuen of Eternal Imports (EI). EI specializes in the provision of unique, hand-made, quality products from around the world. You may check them out at http://www.rejoiceinarts.com
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