Terms and conditions of use
Auspicious birds and flowers and eccentric rocks
(19th century)
- Medium
- silk, wood
- Measurements
- (119.0 × 73.1 cm) (image) 133.1 × 96.2 cm (overall) (framed)
- Place/s of Execution
- China
- Accession Number
- 1553-D3
- Department
- Asian Art
- Credit Line
- National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne
Gift of John H. Connell, 1914
This digital record has been made available on NGV Collection Online through the generous support of The Gordon Darling Foundation - Gallery location
- Not on display
- Physical description
- A male peacock is standing majestically on an eccentric rock and spreading his magnificent tail of peacock feathers while his companion the female peacock is standing on the ground turning her head towards him. All the auspicious birds such as cranes (symbols of long life), pheasants, swallows, quails, rooster and hen as well as butterflies (symbols of long life because butterfly pronounced die 蝶 in Chinese is the same in pronunciation as die 耋 meaning eighty years old) are portrayed in pairs. In traditional Chinese culture, the conventional custom was to present things in pairs which are regarded as auspicious pairing of male and female. However in this picture, only a single hawk is portrayed looking down from a pine branch at the top of the picture. The hawk pronounced ying 鷹 in Chinese is similar in pronunciation to the word ying 英 in yingxiong 英雄 meaning hero and the hawk is therefore heroic in symbolism. The pine tree which remains green throughout winter symbolizes longevity. The peony, which blossoms in spring is a flower of spring and regarded as 'the king of flowers' and symbolizes wealth and good fortune. The images are delicately embroidered on silk. It resembles a painting in the fine shades of colours of blue, green, silvery white and orange. The pictorial conception and workmanship are superb. The wooden frame is beautifully carved like a latticed work of lotus and floral scrolls.