Today viewed two exhibitions: Exquisite Threads displaying nearly sixty works through the themes of education, fashion and the home & Golden Age of China Qianlong Emperor, 1736–1795 which tells the story of China’s foremost art collector Qianlong Emperor, one of China’s most successful rulers and fourth emperor of the Qing dynasty (1644-1911).
The Chinese exhibition showed large scrolls depicting facets of the emperor’s life, very detailed and ornate (usually ink on silk) paintings. Also on display were elaborately embroidered formal clothes worn by the emperor which must have taken some poor minions ages to create. For me the exhibition highlighted the immense power of the emperor.
By contrast the Exquisite Threads exhibition highlights the role of embroidery in the education of young ladies in the period 1600-1900. During that period dress relied heavily on needlework. But the items on display must have taken painstaking hours to create (in the photo gallery, see the sampler completed by Sarah aged 7).
I enjoyed both exhibitions and the lunch we had between viewings.
Go here for a few photos of the visit.