Introduction
Do you know what "silk embroidery" is? Do you
know what it looks like? Many people I come across
in the U.S. are either unaware or unfamiliar with
what silk embroidery is. Moreover, for the few who
are familiar with this specialized Chinese skill, I
have discovered that they do not have a true
knowledge and appreciation for this fine Chinese art
form. Thus, the implication can be made that “silk
embroidery" is truly a "Hidden Oriental
Jewel" that has been under appreciated in the West
due mainly to the fact that the common person is
ignorant of the time, effort, and skill required to
create high-quality "silk embroidery"
works. Hence, the purpose of this article will be to
inform and educate you (whether the art lover or the
common person) on: What is silk embroidery?, How it
is made?, How to appreciate it?, etc. My hope is
that you will acquire an appreciation for the
uniqueness and value of this oft-overlooked Chinese
art. Whether an art lover or not, I think you will
come to appreciate the value of this “Hidden
Oriental Jewel"
What is Silk Embroidery?
Silk embroidery is a type of Oriental wall art that
results from the traditional Chinese skill of
pulling fine strands of colored silk through a
canvas to create a beautiful work of art. The most
common way to enjoy silk embroidery is as a framed,
wall-hanging object. Hence, it is ideal as a gift,
collectible, home decoration, souvenir, or office
piece. The art of skill embroidery originated in
China and has been practiced there for over 3,800
years. It reached a high level early in the Qing and
Han dynasties, with silk and silk embroidery being
the main products transported along the ancient
Chinese Silk Road.
China was one of the first countries to transform
embroidery into an advanced art form. The use of
special embroidery techniques and styles sets apart
Chinese embroidery from embroidery created in other
parts of the world. In the past, embroidery skills
were considered to be an essential skill every woman
was to possess. A woman who could create a
high-quality embroidery piece was admired and
well-respected. Women from rich families took on
embroidery as a hobby while those from poor families
did it for a living. Today, high-quality embroidery
works are treated on the same level as the best
Chinese paintings and Tang/Song Dynasty poems

How To Appreciate Silk Embroidery?
Whether you’re an “art lover" or the “common
person" you'll come to appreciate the value of silk
embroidery once you learn of the skill and effort
that goes into creating each piece. To create a high
quality piece, an artist must split a single silk
thread into several thinner threads. It can be split
into 12 to 48 thinner strands - depending on how
fine the artist wants to be with his/her piece. The
embroiderer then stitches layer after layer using
threads of a variety of colors to reach the final
wonderful effect. Embroiderers are known to take
frequent breaks - every 10 to 15 minutes - to rest
their eyes due to the strenuous nature of their
work.
Due to the labor-intensiveness of the work, some
larger and more intricate pieces of embroidery may
require a year to a year and a half to complete by
an artist or group of artists. Those works sell for
thousands of dollars, - which is reasonable -
considering the skill and time involved in creating
the work. Of course, smaller pieces are available
that are of high quality yet sell for much less.
Four Types of Silk Embroidery The adoption of
different needling methods through the years has
resulted in four distinctive embroidery styles in
China:
1) "Su" embroidery of Jiangsu Province -
known for its delicacy and elegance, this style is
usually very simple, highlighting a main theme. Its
stitching is smooth, dense, thin, neat, even,
delicate and harmonious. The thin thread is divided
into up to 48 strands that are barely visible to the
naked eye. Su embroidery is where double-sided
embroidery originated. Su embroidery products were
sent to participate in the Panama World Fair in
1915.
2) "Xiang" embroidery of Hunan Province -
became the main craft in places around Changsha,
capital city of Hunan Province, in the Qing Dynasty.
Xiang embroidery was developed from Hunan folk
embroidery methods, but it also drew on the skills
of Su embroidery and Yue embroidery. This method
uses loose colorful threads to embroider the pattern
with the stitches being not as neat as those of
other embroidery styles. The various colored threads
are mixed together, showing a gradual change in
color with a rich and harmonious tone. Designs on
Xiang embroidery mostly derive from traditional
Chinese paintings of landscapes, human figures,
flowers, birds and animals. The most common designs
on Xiang embroidery are lions and tigers. The tigers
appear strong and bold, revealing their power and
menace as a king of animals. Xiang embroidery won
the best award in the Torino World Fair in Italy in
1912 and the First Award in the Panama World Fair in
1933.
3) "Yue" embroidery of Guangdong Province
- is rich and complicated in content with bright
colors and strong decorative effects. The embroidery
is smooth and even. One type, gold and silver
cushion embroidery, creates a magnificent
three-dimensional effect. Yue embroidery has a wide
range of designs, the most common ones being birds
worshipping the sun, dragons and phoenixes.
4) "Shu" embroidery of Sichuan Province -
are mostly found in Chengdu, the capital city of
Sichuan Province. They are made with soft satins and
colored threads as the raw materials are embroidered
by hand. The varied stitching methods form their
unique local style. Designs on Shu embroidery
include flowers, birds, landscapes, fish, worms and
human figures. The products themselves include quilt
covers, pillow covers, back cushions, table cloths,
scarves and handkerchiefs.
Western-Style Silk Embroidery
Western-style silk embroidery occurs as the result
of an artist using fine silk strands and needles to
accurately reproduce famous Western-style oil
paintings (see figure 2) - like Van Gogh and Da
Vinci. It is truly amazing how an embroidery artist
can literally take silk strands and create a silk
reproduction of a well-known artist’s oil
painting.
Essentially, the artist paints with fine silk
strands instead of painting with oil. Think about it
. . . does this not perhaps require more skill than
painting with oil itself? Despite the difference in
materials and technique, one thing about a silk
embroidery work is that - from a distance - it can
very much resemble a work of oil painting .
From up close, however, one can notice the colorful
patterns and detailed stitching in a silk embroidery
work. In fact, the colors will appear more bright
and lively than the usually duller colors of an oil
painting.
Double-Sided Silk Embroidery
Double-sided silk embroidery is the result of an
advanced embroidery technique in which the artist
stitches on both sides of a single transparent silk
canvas. The embroidered design displays on both the
front and back sides of the fabric and does not show
the joints in the stitching. Such a work is normally
mounted as a screen on a wooden frame. A special
feature about double-sided silk embroidery is that
you can enjoy the artist’s handiwork from either
side of the picture.
How To Mount & Store Silk Embroidery
Mounting a piece of silk embroidery can be an art in
and of itself.
Hard Mounting - is most suitable for small to
medium-sized embroidery pieces. It involves mounting
the piece on a wooden board or frame with a front
protective glass. The mounting technique is
relatively easy to master.
Soft Mounting - is most suitable for larger pieces.
It involves mounting the embroidery piece on a large
sheet of paper with a silk border. The mounting
technique is very difficult to master. As a result,
due to the nature of the mounting technique, a piece
with soft mounting is more valuable.
Storing - be sure to wrap embroidery pieces in a
container that protects it from moths. Also,
embroidery should not be exposed to strong light -
especially sunshine - for an extended period of
time. Moreover, the environment should be neither
too wet nor too dry.
Recommended Reading
1) Art of Oriental Embroidery: History, Aesthetics,
&... by Young Yang Chung.
2) Painting with a Needle: Learning the Art of Silk
Embroidery by Young Yang Chung
This article was written by Raymond Yuen of Eternal
Imports (EI). EI specializes in the provision of
unique, hand-made, quality products from around the
world.
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