Description

Raising silkworms, weaving, and embroidering silk was primarily the domain of women. Some excelled in this pursuit to a degree that they gained the recognition of the emperor and their works entered the imperial collection. One Hundred Birds, possibly an imitation of a painting and probably executed by a woman, demonstrates the continuing tradition of making embroidered pictures in imitation of paintings. This magnificent textile demonstrates the skill of the embroiderer to use needle and thread like brush and ink.