The Empress Dowager Cixi (1835-1908) was a towering figure in Qing-dynasty China and the power behind the imperial throne for almost half a century. She acted as regent when her five-year-old son was crowned emperor and, when he died, she installed her child nephew as his successor: the Emperor Guangxu.
This luxurious silk cushion cover was made during Guangxu’s reign (1875-1908), probably to cushion the back of a chair or throne at the imperial court, though it was never used. The sparkling surface design was created by wrapping thin strips of metal (presumably gold or silver) in a spiral around silk yarns before weaving. Textiles made from these costly and prestigious materials were generally reserved for the emperor and aristocracy.
Decorative symbols in the design also carried auspicious meaning for the emperor or imperial court. Known as “the king of flowers,” the central peony represented royalty, virtue and springtime. In 1903 the Empress Dowager Cixi designated it the national flower of China. The cushion cover also features clouds as a lucky symbol, bats denoting happiness, and mushrooms — a divine symbol for longevity and immortality.
For the weaver, this labor-intensive work would have required great dexterity and eyesight.
