Conferring Nobility
Dateca. 1891
Maker
Shen Zhenlin
Chinese, active mid-late 19th century
Label TextThe procession is led by eight horses, called wenma ??, with elaborately decorated saddles. They were one of the standard gifts given to the bride’s family by the bridegroom, among the Manchu nobles. The retinue, marching in pairs, held ritual fans, dragon flags, canopies, banners, and other symbolic gifts for the bride. Other officials and servants followed, some carrying lanterns with a Chinese character xi ? on it, indicating this was a wedding ceremony. They accompanied a sedan with a golden cover and blue curtains, transported by sixteen bearers. At the end of the procession, eight officials—indicated by the peacock feather on their hats—riding on horseback ensured that the ceremony was properly executed.
Object number33.1839
ProvenanceBaker's, Seattle
Photo CreditPhoto: Elizabeth Mann
Published ReferencesToda, Teisuke and Hiromitsu Ogawa. Comprehensive Illustrated Catalogue of Chinese Paintings: Second Series. Tokyo: University of Tokyo Press, 1998. See p. I-362, I-260.Credit LineEugene Fuller Memorial Collection
DimensionsOverall: 15 9/16 x 285 3/16" (39.6 x 724.4cm)
Image: (1) painting proper: 33.3 cm (h) x 232.2 cm (w);
(2) Colophon paper: 32.8 cm (h) x 129.1 cm (w)
MediumInk and color on silk
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