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Pendant

1300s

China, 14th century

Medium
needleloop embroidery and knotting; silk, silvered paper, gilded paper and gold thread
Measurements
Overall: 84.5 x 21.7 cm (33 1/4 x 8 9/16 in.)
Credit Line
Edward L. Whittemore Fund 1994.20
Public Domain
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Location
Not on view
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Description

Pendants were used extensively in Buddhist settings where they were attached to almost anything needing decoration: ritual objects, canopies, valances, pillars, and other architectural components. They could be made in a variety of ways. This example consists of a heading and six tiers, each embroidered separately and then attached, one to the next. The earliest known pendant of this type was found in Central Asia and dates from the Tang dynasty (AD 618-907). The 14th-century date of this pendant is indicated by the style of the flowers.
A vertically oriented needleloop embroidery and silk pendant features six stacked, shield-shaped panels of increasing size. Each segment is decorated with embroidered flowers in pink and white against backgrounds of blue and tan, framed by a green, looped trim. At the top, a wavy orange form connects to a yellow suspension cord, while tassels in yellow, pink, brown, and blue cascade from the bottom corners and center.

Pendant

1300s

China, 14th century

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