Lingzhi Mushroom Panel

This lingzhi mushroom panel was made in China in the 19th century out of silk.

It is a large cover of silk gauze embroidered with a central lingzhi design. The lingzhi is a sacred fungus said to give immortality. In this composition, it is surrounded by eight more mushrooms with four additional in each of the corners. The rest of the field is dense with meandering vines and it is bordered in a wan character fret with superimposed lotus and peony flowers. This silk counted stitch work is done mainly with five shades of blue and accented with pink and some green.