A SILK EMBROIDERED ‘DEER’ PANEL, 18TH CENTURYChina. Finely embroidered in satin stitch with blue, white, red, and green silk and neatly applied gold thread with a pair of deer, framed by rockwork issuing peonies and prunus, the ground scattered with lingzhi, and crashing waves, all above an apricot ground. Probably Imperial workshops.Provenance: From a private collection, South-west France.Condition: Good condition with some wear, soiling, loose threads, minor tears, small losses, trimming, and little creasing.Dimensions: Size 134 x 90 cmIn Chinese culture, the deer symbolizes longevity, but can also have wealth and prosperity connotations to it. The Chinese word for deer is also a homonym for lu, which means good ie. The animal is generally associated with Shoulao, the god of longevity.十八世紀刺綉《雙鹿》掛屏中國。杏紅地上綉藍、白、紅、綠絲，金絲繡雙鹿，旁邊假山、牡丹、梅花，滿地靈芝，亦可見一角麗水紋。