Mandarin Square

Fifth rank military officer's bear square. Mostly in coarse satin stitch on blue-black cloth: animal has couched mane and tail (like No. 52-23-64); symbols done in Peking knot. Greek fret border couched in gold. (This square is identical in pattern with 52-23-72 and could have been made by the same person. These two squares, No. 52-23-83 and 52-23-72, neatly show the small contrast between bear and lion on the late Qing squares: body form, coloring and tails are practically the same, the only real difference being in more curls on the lion. Based on the appearance of the background elements this appears to be from the Daoguang Period (1821-50 CE).