Wall hanging with lotus
Not on view
Delicate silk wall hangings were important interior ornaments for upscale houses in traditional China. This brocade panel features a rich array of lotus in subtle colors. Lotus imagery was first introduced into China as a Buddhist symbol of purity. It later became one of the most popular motifs in Chinese art. Here, lotus blossoms and leaves are combined with various auspicious symbols—coins, ingots, scrolls, and rhinoceros horns—to convey wishes for wealth and good fortune.