Touched by Indigo - Royal Ontario Museum
Touched by Indigo - Royal Ontario Museum
Touched by Indigo - Royal Ontario Museum
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size, and shape they share similarities with the embroidered ball. Not<br />
only is the symbolic significance of the lion(s)-and-embroidered-ball<br />
motif preserved with the use of this unusual substitute, but also the<br />
consistency in the choice of the component parts (i.e., an animal<br />
represented together with a plant) making up the overall design for<br />
the valance is maintained.<br />
The last motif has two possible interpretations, both of which<br />
complement the symbolic connotations of the cat and chrysanthemum<br />
motifs. In the first instance, the chrysanthemum and the rabbit<br />
may be viewed as symbols of longevity.<br />
The symbolism for the chrysanthemum is<br />
already understood. The rabbit needs particular<br />
explanation, its representation being<br />
rather involved. Since ancient times, this<br />
animal has been depicted erect, standing<br />
on its hind legs and, with mortar and pestle<br />
in hand, diligently pounding an elixir, either<br />
under the supervision of Xiwangmu (the legendary<br />
Queen Mother of the West) or in the<br />
company of Chang'e in the moon.53 Its close relationship with prominent<br />
immortals and the important duty entrusted to it may therefore<br />
account for its being a symbol of longevity. In the second instance,<br />
the rabbit, too, may be seen as an emblem of fecundity, given its<br />
natural powers of proliferation.<br />
Symbols of long life and abundant descendants are considered<br />
to be particularly appropriate for the adornment of articles used in<br />
the bedroom. This valance is a good example reflecting this common<br />
notion.<br />
THE EMBROIDERY OF THIS VALANCE, similar to No. 50, is<br />
also worked in unbleached white cotton thread on an indigo-dyed<br />
ground. This example, however, shows a dense design made up of<br />
five large fruit baskets as the principal motifs, triangular corner motifs,<br />
and a pictorial border on three sides above a wave pattern that has<br />
been added to the front-turning hem.<br />
The fruit baskets are all designed with angular and rigid frames.<br />
Although they seem to look alike at first glance, many interesting<br />
details actually set them apart. For example, each has been given a<br />
different delicate pattern to simulate a basket-weave pattern54; each<br />
is adorned as well with differently designed accessories, such as the<br />
pair of hanging ornaments and the artistically knotted tassels attached<br />
to its bottom.<br />
The fruit baskets and other numerous motifs seen here are<br />
saturated with auspicious wishes. Among the recognizable motifs,<br />
the desire for long life (shou) is conveyed <strong>by</strong> the curving edges of the<br />
baskets' appendages, the meander and wan patterns decorating the<br />
flower pot in the triangular corner design at the right, the Buddha'shand<br />
citrons (foshou), the peaches, the fish-drum, and the stiff fan.55<br />
Longings for a happy marriage and abundant offspring are expressed<br />
<strong>by</strong> the pairs of fruits, birds, and animals. Among these, the meanings<br />
51. BED VALANCE, Cotton, 1900-1925, Chengdu, Sichuan province, 980.287.23,<br />
L 193cmxW. 31 cm<br />
67