Celebrating Chinese textiles, this exquisite volume draws on historical and modern pieces from the world-renowned collections of the Victoria and Albert Museum. It tells the overlapping stories of their making and the material culture in which they were produced, exploring the different techniques, influences, and meanings behind these colorful works of art.

Many pieces were made for special celebrations. Weddings provided occasions for splendid robes, palanquin hangings, and quilts and bed curtains, many bearing the "pictures of a hundred boys" that expressed the wish for sons to carry the family line. Pieces created for birthdays include inspired scenes of filial piety on scrolls and silk wall panels. Verity Wilson tells the story of each piece, introducing a wealth of characters from China's history and legends. The superb photography showcases the splendor of these intricate and glorious textiles to full effect.

About the Author

Verity Wilson was formerly a curator in the Asian Department of the V&A. She has published on Chinese export silk, cross-cultural dressing, ancient and medieval Silk Road textiles, and vestment traditions of Daoism.