Mandarin Square

First rank mandarin square with cranes. An interesting and valuable example of the early Qing aversion to splitting the bird when the front square had to be adapted to the new Manchu-style riding jacket. On the front square (54-16-3A), the single bird has been replaced by two, one on each side of the split, while the back square (54-16-3B) is in the usual form. Birds and clouds are done in the rich Kangxi style of satin stich over hog bristles on couched gold background. After the disappearance of the peacock feathers on rock, this has been re-done in satin stitch at a later time. The original border design remains although the peacock-feather background is now gone.