Chinese red satin metallic thread embroidered coverlet, late Qing dynasty. Photo Grogan and Company

8 feet 2 inches x 6 feet - Estimate $2,000-5,000

Provenance: Mrs. Hong, Xian Xi Province, China;
Reverend James Joyce, by gift, 1945

Notes: The Reverend James Joyce, a Dominican missionary to China, was given this textile by the Hong Family in 1943 to raise money for their church. Rev. James Joyce spent 20 years in China and was held for 5 years as a political prisoner by the Chinese Red Guard in 1955.
The calligraphic inscription along the top border is purported to read: Congratulations, Mrs. Hong on your 60th birthday. You were born into an esteemed family. Everything that passes is successful and peaceful. God has blessed you with all this. You have helped your husband carry out his duties. Everyone commends and praises you. You are gentle, you are nice, you understand everything. Everyone believes you are a great person. May happiness always be with you. You are now old and live in splendor. Yet in your heart you are sincere and pure. In your daily dealings with family and servants you are firm yet fair. You never accept favors or show favoritism. You know the true path to politeness and kindness. A few have written these things in praise of you. You are resolute and confident in your own independence. In the chaos of excitement you know how to mediate. Others believe that you quietly help and support your husband in his esteemed public life. Not only are you all of these things but you are beautiful and serve as an example to all. Your son is following exactly in your footsteps. He is beyond reproach and knows how to treat all people fairly. He is very successful and intelligent. You are a heroine in the inner circles. Your husband is a hero and you are
gentle, kind and honest. May many generations know of your merits. May you be safe and victorious always.
Honorable wife, today you celebrate an important birthday. we come to your court to pay you tribute. You will certainly have good luck following you always. We are embarrassed to present you with such a humble gift as this as a toast to you.

Grogan and Company.  THE DECEMBER AUCTION  -  Dec 11 2011 www.groganco.com