Vintage Embroidery Appraisal

Framed Silk Embroidery of Birds and Flowers

This item is a framed embroidered silk art piece, likely of East Asian origin, depicting two vibrant pheasants or similar exotic birds perched on a branch, possibly pine, with an accompanying blooming floral element, specifically a pink peony or rose. The embroidery is executed with fine silk threads, demonstrating a high degree of craftsmanship, typical of Su embroidery or similar traditional Chinese/Japanese silk embroidery techniques, where threads are often split into minute strands to achieve subtle shading and realistic textures, particularly visible in the birds' plumage. The colors are rich and well-preserved, featuring bright yellows, oranges, and reds for the birds, deep greens for the pine needles, and a striking pink for the flower. The background fabric appears to be a light cream or ivory silk, which has likely mellowed with age, possibly showing some light discoloration or foxing, though this is difficult to ascertain precisely due to reflections on the glass. The entire piece is presented under glass, which shows reflections from the surrounding environment, in what appears to be a simple, rectangular wooden frame with a medium-brown finish, possibly oak or a similar grain. The frame features a visible inner dark brown mat or liner, which effectively separates the embroidery from the frame itself. In the upper left quadrant, there are vertical characters, likely Chinese or Japanese calligraphy, possibly a signature, date, or poetic inscription, adding to the cultural context of the piece. The overall condition appears good given its age, with no obvious tears or loose threads visible through the glass, though the frame shows some minor wear consistent with handling and age. The precise age is difficult to determine without further examination, but the style suggests mid-20th century or earlier.