Textile

Square textile with rounded cut-out corners. Silk. Blue background except for circular center section of gold. Woven designs: on each side, a dragon mask with body below; wave pattern at two side edges; various small animal, bird, fruit, flower, and scroll forms. Band of black silk brocade with bright blue piping around edge. Textile shows against a blue background four five-clawed dragons amidst auspicious motifs and clouds. The dragons initially were decorated with metallic thread, though it is now degraded. Simplistic painted details on the waves, auspicious motifs, and dragons are still visible. The crude execution of the textile is evidenced by the asymmetric central medallion that has been pieced together from different patches. (Perhaps a repair?) A strip of black satin damask with royal blue satin borders the entire textile. Backing is a plain weave fabric made of blue silk or maybe cotton.