Textile Strips; ivory colored silk satin, embroidered in pastels and gold with Mandarin ducks, golden pheasant, butterflies, flowers, pond. Geometric meander and flowering vine border. Hems glued later. a, b are mirror images. L. 58 cm. W. 18.5 cm each. China att.; Peking area att. Background: silk; satin weave Pattern area: untwisted silk, gold wrapped silk; satin stitch, couching, stem stitch, Chinese knot. Possibly covers for elbow cushions. Late 19th c. or early 20th c. Symbolism: Mandarin duck - (pair), conjugal fidelity; Golden pheasant - beauty, good fortune, symbol of second grade official; Butterfly - joy, summer; Lotus - summer; Plum blossom - long life, winter; Peony - riches, honor, love, spring; Bamboo - longevity Mary V. Hays; S.F., Ca (personal contact). Williams; Outlines of Chinese Symbolism, pp. 24, 42, 120, 220-222, 282, 284, 296-297