A pair of C19th Chinese silk sleeve bands

A mounted pair of Chinese silk sleeve bands or cuffs on a pale blue-green ground from the mid 19th century, sewn together to form a panel. The vibrant design includes flowers and, at the centre, toads and bats.

The sleeves are embroidered in silk mainly in silk stitch with the central toads and flowers in knot or seed stitch. They are set in a black silk surround and the panel is backed by a blue material (last photo) which is not visible in the mounted piece.

Condition:  There are losses to pink threads, mainly in the flowers in the top part of the panel, which reveal the blue silk ground. The background silk is faded/ discoloured. The central motifs are in good condition and the whole effect is very pleasing. Please see photographs. 

Size (visible fabric): 23 cm x 52 cm (9” x 20 ½ “)    (mount): 35½cm  x65cm (14” x 25 ½ “)