Vintage Chinese Dragon Banner Republic Period

A colorful hanging banner with three dragon rondels above crashing waves.

 

A red and blue silk banner with scalloped edges has embroidered dragon rondels. The dragons are embroidered with two tones of blue silk and are edged in silver thread. They have white eyes with black pupils and have five-clawed feet. They seem to have captured the pearl of wisdom and float above crashing red and blue waves which are also edged with silver thread. The banner edges and fringed end are all framed in silver thread.

 

The banner is backed with a coarsely woven pale yellow fabric with two reddish fabric loops used to secure the banner. One loop is in the center and one on the underside of the fringe. There is a loop made from the same yellow fabric as used on the back at the top for hanging. The top has a piece of bamboo sewn in for hanging. There is white cotton piping around the banner edges.

 

There are three Chinese characters in black ink on the top back, as well as what looks like a number 9.

 

 

53” (134.6 cm) long x 13” (33.0 cm) wide.

Weighs 5.6 oz (160 g)

 

 

The colors are still bright and don’t look faded. The yellow back has some foxing, water staining and soiling. The bamboo post insert in the top has a break. The silver thread on the waves has taken on some of the red from the fabric. Three of the fringe ends have a lost some of the silver coloring to their threads. The white piping on the edge shows some staining. The fringe on the bottom is wrinkled.

 

A large colorful Chinese silk banner that will add to a silk collection. It will add a big splash of color.