Song Dynasty (960-1279 A.D. )

L12cm; W12cm

        This is a blue samite with two standing blossoms on a central axis. Several curvy leaves and smaller lotus flowers tastefully placed on the sides enhance the two large flowers in full bloom. The elements are arranged into a large design unit with a teardrop-shaped contour. Two recumbent deer face each other under thelotus. The spots on their bodies indicate that they belong to sika deer. Their raised heads and slightly lifted front hooves seem as if they are ready to speed off. This weft-faced compound satin is a Liao samite, with two groups of warps and four groups of figuring wefts in the colors of blue, light yellow,taupe and white. The fragmented deer motif is 12cm high in the warp directionand should be about 15cm in the weft direction. (XZ)