Paired cuffbands: Garden and children

Description

Paired cuff bands
China
Qing dynasty (1644–1912)
19th century
Embroidered silk
Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Herbert W. Johe, 1989/2.38, 1989/2.34, 1989/2.51,
1989/2.33
3
Depictions of children are found throughout the history of
Chinese visual culture. While the earliest extant image of
children at play dates to the Three Kingdoms period (220–
65) in China, such imagery became prominent in the Song
dynasty (960–1279) and after. Children playing in gardens
was a common auspicious motif on embroidered cuffs, with
connotations of happiness and blessings.