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Chinese Scrolls

China

Unknown

Unknown

This piece depicts the traditional court dress, similar to the Tang dynasty, which would often have strikingly ornate colours interwoven around mythical creatures. The most common creature in these dresses, as well as most art in Chinese culture, is the dragon. The scroll also depicts the Peony flower, along with the hand fan, developed in the 2nd century BCE. Chinese painting has remained one of the longest-lasting styles in the world, aptly named guóhuà, or “native painting”, as opposed to their western counterparts. The earliest known paintings came from a more ornamental, which focused more on designs and patterns, rather than pictures. It was during 475–221 BC that artists began reflecting the world around them through their paintings and pottery.

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