Apraisal Report
Prepared for: Lovejoy & Co. Date: July 29, 2025
This report provides an appraisal of a set of four Chinese silk embroidery panels. Each panel features traditional motifs including birds, flowers, and insects, rendered in fine silk thread with detailed craftsmanship. The panels are framed and preserved under glass.
Historical Context:
Chinese silk embroidery has a rich heritage dating back over two thousand years, reaching its artistic peak during the Qing Dynasty (1644-1912). During this period, embroidery was not only a decorative art but also a symbol of status, culture, and spiritual belief. Artisans used fine silk threads to depict scenes from nature, mythology, and daily life with remarkable detail and symbolism.
Birds, flowers, and insects are recurring motifs in Chinese textile art. Birds often symbolize freedom, harmony, and seasonal transitions. Flowers represent beauty, prosperity, and the cycles of nature, while insects like butterflies and dragonflies are associated with transformation and joy. When combined, these motifs often convey layered meanings, such as the harmony between heaven and earth or the changing of seasons.
The four panels in this collection reflect these traditions. Each panel features a unique composition of birds and flora, suggesting a seasonal or symbolic narrative. The craftsmanship, color palette, and traditional framing indicate a high level of artistry, consistent with late Qing or early Republic-era embroidery.
Indicators of quality:
• Smooth silk background with fine sheen — no puckering, even tension.
• Feather detail on the bird is incredibly delicate with directional stitchwork, blending colours -consistent with traditional Chinese hand embroidery.
• The gradient shading in the petals and feathers suggests a high level of skill.
• The silk threads reflect light at different angles — typical of real silk, not synthetic floss.
• The tight border stitch, though uniform, also has some small inconsistencies, which is a good sign (machine embroidery tends to be perfect and flat).
Bird Identification
• The bird closely resembles a long-tailed tit or paradise flycatcher, commonly depicted in Chinese decorative embroidery.
• These birds are often shown perched among blossoms, which symbolize spring and renewal.
Origin & Workshop Style
• Almost certainly Chinese Suzhou embroidery — one of the four major embroidery styles of China.
• Suzhou embroidery is famed for:
Lifelike detail
Smooth silk surfaces
Subtle colour gradients
• Suzhou work from the 1950s–70s was likely made by an artisan for export or domestic interior decor.
Vintage Chinese Hand-Embroidered Silk Panels – Set of Four
Synopsis
Beautifully hand-stitched silk embroideries depicting birds among blossoming branches, showcasing the refined techniques of Suzhou-style embroidery. Each panel features detailed shading and fine stitchwork on a lustrous silk ground, bordered by an intricate woven pattern.
Framed in Western Australia by R. White & Sons (Bayswater) during the mid-20th century.
A complete and well-preserved set, ideal for collectors of Asian decorative arts or vintage textile works.
• Origin: Likely Suzhou, China
• Era: c. 1950s–70s
• Medium: Silk embroidery on silk ground
• Condition: Excellent vintage condition
Framing
The panels were professionally framed by R. White & Sons in Bayswater, Western Australia. The style of the label and telephone formatting suggests the framing occurred several decades ago, likely in the mid to late 20th century. This contributes to the provenance and preservation history of the set.
R. White & Sons (later White Frame) – Picture Framing in Bayswater, WA
• Founded: in 1959, originally as R. White & Sons in Bayswater, Western Australia
• Business Type: A specialist mirror and picture framing service, operating in Perth’s eastern suburbs (Bayswater) and later known as “White Frame”
• Location: Their early address was 1/514 Guildford Road, Bayswater 6053
• As per later business listings, the firm continued under the White Frame name and was marketed as Perth’s longest-running art & picture framer, emphasizing custom, quality workmanship
Estimated Value:
- Authentic antique panels: AUD $1,000-$5,000+ per panel (Total: AUD $4,000-$20,000+)
- High-quality modern reproductions: AUD $100-$500 per panel (Total: AUD $400-$2,000)
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